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A SECRET OF THE SEA 


BY 


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CORNELIA MITCHELL PARSONS. 


(Copyright, 1896, by Cornelia Mitchell Parsons.) 


7 V\ 

JUl 

V 


NEW YORK : 

J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 
57 Rose Street. 






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TO MY MOTHER 


I dedicate this story, iu memory of her grandfather, Timothy 
Ruggles Green, who, in the year 1812, while accompanying 
Mrs. Allston, nee Theodosia Burr, to the North, so myster- 
iously perished. The ship on which they embarked was 
never heard from. 

The sea keeps its own secret. 

( 3 ) 














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A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


CHAPTER I. 

“The island lies nine leagues away 
Along its solitary shore, 

Of craggy rock and sandy beach, 

No sound but ocean’s roar, 

Save where the bold wild sea bird makes her home, 

Her shrill cry coming through the sparkling foam.” 

“What a fearful night it is, father! I have 
been listening to the howling of the wind and the 
beating of the waves on the rocks, — until every 
thought of sleep has fled.” 

The words were softly spoken by a fair-haired 
girl of about seventeen ; she was reclining on a 
lounge, which stood in one corner of the little sit- 
ting-room. 

Captain Burton, for such was the father’s name, 
was a large, squarely built man of medium height. 
PI is piercing gra}^ eyes and thick overhanging 
brows, from under which he looked out into the 
world, gave him somewhat a sinister expression. 
His hair was iron -gray, and a short stubby beard 
gave squareness to the terraced chin. His mouth 

( 5 ) 


6 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


was large, the corners somewhat drawn down. 
One would be apt to remark that the man never 
smiled. 

He had been reading ; the fingers of his right 
hand, which by the way, were encased in a black 
kid glove, were partially hidden between the pages 
of the book. As his daughter spoke, he glanced 
out into the night. No word fell from his lips, 
but as the howling of the wind increased, an 
uneasy mournful expression passed over his 
features. 

“ Mother used to say,” the girl continued, “ that 
the roar of the waves beating on the rocks soothed 
and rested her. I wish I could feel as she did, 
that they brought messages from far away lands, 
where winter is unknown. Ah ! father, if it could 
only be summer always.” 

At the mention of the sainted mother’s name, 
the old man moved restlessly, rubbing his left 
hand up and down the polished arm of the easy 
chair; he sighed. 

“ Your mother always did see beauty in every- 
thin’. Hers was a rare nature, Theo. I never half 
knew her worth till she was taken from me. 
Aye ! Aye ! child,” he added, musingly, “ you’re 
like her in feature. Sometimes when I look in 
yer eyes it seems as if my Cicily had come back 
to me.” 

A tear rolled down the wrinkled cheek, which 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


7 


he hastily brushed away with the back of his left 
hand. 

“ She never answered back when I spoke 
rough to her— and I often did that. I’m glad 
she’s safe up aloft. Cicily always kept her eyes 
open for the danger signals. She said we was 
none of us safe here below, the seas was always so 
rough and strong. We must pray to be kept from 
temptations, and never stop prayin’. 1 didn't 
heed her words, Theo. Your old father ain’t the 
man he’d ought to be, after havin’ such a sainted 
example always before him these many years.” 

“ Do you remember the lines mother was so 
fond of repeating, dear father ? ” 

“ Yes, Theo, say ’em over for me.” 

“ ‘Be patient, keep your spirits still, for storms 
Are all about you, and you can not say, 

Even to the highest of them, * Peace, be still ! ’ 

The skilful pilot can control the barque 
But not the breeze, the rock defies the gale 
Unmoved, but can not soothe it into calm. 

Faith walks in night, yet is not of the night. 

And Hope her fellow, looks into the east, 

Where, marking the long cloud -bars, all of gold — 

It says our day is up, behold the sun ! 

“ ‘ Maturity of ill as well as good God waiteth for* 

For unripe evil, just, as unripe good 

He will not pluck ; ’tis ripeness that He deals with. 

The language of the lips is loud and hollow, 

The language of the heart is deep and low ,’ 11 


8 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


Silence fell on both as the young girl finished 
the recital of the verses. 

The sitting-room was not large, but there was 
an air of comfort that pervaded the home. The 
logs on the hearth sent up a cheerful blaze, and 
the flickering flames cast strange shadows on the 
most remote objects. On the centre of the man- 
telshelf stood a quaint old fashioned timepiece, 
which solemnly ticked out the hours, and on either 
side there were two pieces of rose coral. In one 
corner of the room stood a bookcase with glass 
doors, through which could be seen rows of plainly 
bound volumes, by poet, novelist and historian. 
A small table, holding upon its polished surface a 
glass case, under which were two stuffed birds 
with gorgeous plumage, stood in another corner, 
and near it a larger table, with an oil lamp, by 
which sat Captain Burton. Three straight backed 
chairs in two stiff rows were placed on either side 
of the fireplace. These with the easy chair, and 
low couch on which Theo was reclining, formed 
the only furniture of the apartment. 

Long after she had ceased speaking, the girl’s 
blue eyes remained fixed upon her father’s face. 
Her red lips would now and then tremble as a 
thought from out of the happy past rose to her 
mind, and her eyes had a far away look in them. 
At last the face grew composed, the lines of 
thought softened, her regular breathing kept time 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


9 


with the ticking of the clock. She had fallen 
asleep. 

An hour passed. Roused from his revery by 
the violence of the wind, which seemed to shake 
the house at its very foundations, the!* captain 
walked to the side of the lounge, and lifting his 
daughter in his strong arms, carried the sleeping 
girl through the dark entry up the stairway to 
her chamber. Here he laid her tenderly down on 
the little white bed, carefully spreading a shawl 
over her. 

“Poor tired child,” he said to himself; “I’m 
glad she sleeps. Bad dreams can’t disturb my 
pure Theo’s sweet repose. The gale grows a bit 
worse every moment. God have mercy on any ves- 
sel that plows the waves to-night ! ” 

He passed his black gloved hand thoughtfully 
across his brow. Then shrugging his shoulders 
as if he longed in like manner to throw off the 
thing that troubled him, he made his way down 
the stairs, and reentered the little sitting-room. 
Here the captain remained standing for a few mo- 
ments, as if buried in thought. He crossed the 
room to the bookcase, fumbled in his pocket, 
pulled out a brass key, fitted it into the lock of a 
lower drawer, turned it, and slowly drew the 
drawer out. 

It was filled with curios of all kinds, which had 
evidently been brough^ from many foreign shores. 


10 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


There were bead necklaces of Syrian workman- 
ship, Egyptian baskets of various forms, grotesque 
Chinese idols, carved ivory chessmen and bits of 
gold chain, odd rings of curious workmanship, 
containing diamonds and other precious stones — 
besides a box of old-fashioned brooches, earrings, 
bracelets and other trinkets. 

After handling several of the rings, Captain 
Burton seemed at last to find that for which he 
was searching. It was a ring containing two 
opals and one large diamond in the centre, the set- 
ting of which was somewhat antique. He ad- 
vanced to the larger table and held the trinket up 
to the light — the opals glowed like fire. He 
turned it in his fingers and glanced at the inner 
side of the narrow band. There were two initials 
engraved on the gold ; they were B. and A., and 
with many little flourishes and curves were inter- 
twined. The face of the man worked convulsively 
— his hand shook — the ring fell on the soft car- 
peted floor, making no sound. 

“ Oh, m} r God ! must I bear this agony always, 
always ! ” he cried. “ They haunt me, her eyes — 
they follow me ! ” The old clock ticked in reply, 
“ Always, always, always — they will follow you.” 

“ Not always ! I can not,” he stopped. “ I 
must! My Theo, I must live for her.” 

Great beads of perspiration rested on his fore- 
head, as with clenched hands he stood — a man 


A SECRET OE THE SEA. 


11 


alone with God — with a conscience that would not 
be silenced. The past ever before him — the sin 
that nothing could shut out from his view — no 
nothing — he must live on and bear the conse- 
quences. 

With a weary sigh Captain Burton stooped 
down, picked up the ring and laid it in the 
drawer, which he locked, slipping the key into 
his pocket. 

Again, a strange shadow passed over the face of 
the man. He had lifted the oil lamp, but re- 
mained quite motionless, holding it in his hands. 

“ I must have some extra change,” he muttered, 
“Joe ’ll soon be returnin’.” 

He passed out of the room. The wind howled, 
a stray gust blew so strongly down the chimney, 
that a loosened brick fell with a dull thud on the 
hearth amid a shower of soot. He turned, but did 
not retrace his steps, and entered the kitchen 
which was on the other side of the little hallway. 
The cupboard doors were closed. Captain Bur- 
ton opened them and took from one of the neatly 
papered shelves, a loaf of white bread. From 
this he cut three or four slices and buttered them. 
He then made a cup of tea, placed the bread on a 
tin platter, on which were some salted herrings, 
and carried the eatables into the woodshed, return- 
ing to the kitchen for the lamp which he placed 
on an old oaken chest in the corner. “ I came 


12 A SECRET OR TEE SEA. 

near forgettin’ the poor creature. Joe seems to 
think she looks to be in a better condition each 
time he sees her.” 

The back part of the shed appeared to be par- 
titioned off. There was a door leading into the 
enclosure ; this the captain unlocked, carefully 
pushed in the tin platter and the cup of tea, re- 
marking as he did so : 

“ I guess the creature is sleepin’. It must be 
pretty late.” 

He closed the door quietly, locked it, and 
dropped the key into his deep jacket pocket. On 
one side of the shed piled up on the floor were a 
number of logs ready to be sawn, and near by a 
smaller heap of wood neatly split up into pieces of 
uniform length for the winter supply. 

No ax or saw were to be seen. A door from 
this room led to another extension, in which fish 
and meats were salted and dried, here also the 
process of dunning* was gone through with year 
after year. 

After a few minutes, Captain Burton passed 
into the smokehouse, and soon reappeared with 
a rusty iron pick. He then began slowly to pry 
up three of the boards from the floor. As these 
were lifted from their places a rocky surface was 


* Dunning was carried on by the fishermen of the Shoals for many 
years. A dunfish is a handsome creature. It is cut in transparent 
stripes, the color of brown sherry wine. The process is a tedious one. 


A SECRET OE THE SEA. 


13 


exposed — the cottage evidently rested on a strong 
foundation. The old man satisfied with the result 
of his labor, rose slowly to his feet, passed to a 
corner of the room and took down from a nail a 
lantern which he lighted. Again he stooped and 
carefully examined the rocky surface, holding the 
lantern over the opening. The light fell upon 
an iron ring large enough to admit of a man’s 
three fingers ; this was fastened to a circular piece 
of wood. Raising this, the opening revealed a 
short flight of steps cut out of the solid rock. 
Descending these, he reached a cave, the rocky 
roof of which was high enough to permit a person 
to stand upright. The lantern burnt dimly. In 
the Egyptian darkness nothing at first could be 
distinguished. Captain Burton was evidently not 
a stranger in the subterranean chamber. The 
rocks were worn away in places, showing that the 
sea had in some past age been there as well. The 
walls were damp and black. 

The light fell upon three well filled canvas 
bags, and two old chests, such as seamen would 
be likely to use— these stood in one corner of the 
cave. 

The captain placed the lantern on the floor, and 
with some difficulty, began to untie a cord which 
bound the neck of one of the bags. Opening it 
he lifted the lantern high up, the light fell upon 
hundreds of gold coins of various sizes. Some of 


14 


A SECRET OE THE SEA. 


them glistened, while others appeared green and 
mouldy, but all bore a foreign impress. 

For a moment the old man remained lost in 
thought. He took several of the coins, one by 
one, in his fingers and carefully examined each in 
turn. 

“’Tis lucky I’ve enough to last me all my days. 
Theo shall never want ; she need know nothin’ 
about the history ! ” He stopped. “ Cicily was 
that curious always as to how I got so much 
money, and where I kept it, but I never told her. 
She believed in me, and the little one’s like her, 
she’ll believe too.” 

He took a large leathern pouch from his pocket 
and filled it with as many of the gold pieces as it 
would comfortably hold, counting them one by 
one as he did so. Now and then he would look 
behind him as if expecting some mysterious pres- 
ence to snatch them from his grasp. Retying the 
bag, he placed it beside the others, and dropped 
the pouch into his pocket. Then picking up the 
lantern, he made his way up the stone steps to the 
opening in the floor, replaced the boards, blew 
out the light, and passed with the lamp into the 
kitchen, locking the door behind him. 

As the captain entered the sitting-room, his eyes 
fell upon the brass face of the clock ; the ivory 
hands pointed to two. “ ’Tis growin’ late — I must 
go aloft and turn in for the night,” he muttered. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


15 


CHAPTER II. 

“ The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day.” 

It was a morning late in September. The mists 
rose slowly into the western sky — great towers 
and columns of mist — pure and white, their tops 
touched by Aurora’s rosy finger. A slight breeze 
caused rifts here and there in the wonderful fleecy 
structure, tearing into shreds some of the largest 
clouds, which floated away to various parts of the 
heavens, revealing between great stretches of blue. 
The sun in all his glory burst forth, shining on 
the stretch of purple waters beyond, where the 
New Hampshire coast line could be clearly traced, 
then glimpses of the white beach, a few scattered 
houses, and beyond a background of forest lands. 

The Isles of Shoals in the early morning light, 
looked gray and rugged. Nine miles of the scin- 
tillating Atlantic stretched between them and the 
nearest shores of New Hampshire, while to the 
northwest twenty >one miles away could be seen 
the outlines of Cape Ann in Massachusetts, and 
sixteen miles to the southeast, Cape Neddock in 
Maine. 

The group received its name, not because of 


16 


A SECRET OE THE SEA. 


the ragged bluffs or reefs, but on account of the 
41 schoaling ” or “ schooling ” of fish about them 
in the mackerel and herring season. At low tide 
six islands can be seen, while at high tide, eight 
or even nine. A breakwater connects two of 
them. Appledore or Hog Island is the largest of 
the group, so called from its resemblance to a 
hog’s back. It has about four hundred acres, and 
a narrow valley divides the land into two unequal 
parts. Next in the chain is Holey’s Island or 
“ Smutty Nose ” ; at low tide Cedar and Malaga 
are connected with it. “ Anderson’s Rock,” off 
the southeast corner is not far removed. One 
quarter of a mile away, lies Star Island with its 
one hundred and fifty acres, on which can be seen 
the houses of the little village of Gosport, with a 
tiny church appearing on one of the highest rocks. 
Then comes White Island, the most picturesque 
of all, with its warning light. This is connected 
with Seaveys’, and at low water both cover an 
area of twenty acres. The most westerly of the 
group is “ Londoner’s,” with its beautiful shell 
beach. Toward the west, “ Round Rock ” adds 
to the picturesqueness of this island. There are 
two others in the group, which are much dreaded 
by seamen, as they lie below the surface of the 
sea. These are “ Devil’s Rock,” off White Island, 
and “ Old Harry ” four miles east of Appledore. 

Duck Island, the scene of our story, is the 


A SECRET OF THE SEA.. 


17 


r.iOst remote, and is situated about two miles 
northeast of Appledore. Its treacherous ledges 
run toward the west and north — beneath the sur- 
face of the water, one of them being half a mile 
long. At the east and south, the shore is bolder. 
Shag and Mingo, two large rocks over which the 
sea breaks with great violence, are separated from 
the main island by a narrow channel. 

On this particular morning, the purple asters 
could be seen among the rocks, while clusters of 
golden rod waved their plumes, standing as 
heralds to announce the coming autumn. The 
cry of the curlew and the plover are heard, and 
white winged sea gulls skim the surface of the 
waves, or lighting on the long black ledges, soft- 
ened the hard outlines, making them look as if 
covered by newly fallen snow. Nestled among 
the rocks stood the little gray cottage of Captain 
Burton, undiscernible* save for the honeysuckled 
embowered porch, and the curling smoke which 
rose from the chimney, while behind and at one 
side lay the trim garden fairly ablaze with color. 
There were marigolds, larkspurs, sweetpeas of 
various hues, fragrant mignonette and scarlet pop- 
pies. The flowers, however, looked blown and 
torn, having lived through the last night’s storm. 
They were standing with bent heads, waiting for 
the sunshine to dry their tears. Beside them 
looking like a sweet rose herself stood Theo. Her 
2 


18 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


golden hair, blown back from her white brow by 
the sea breeze, formed a halo of little curls around 
her head. A pair of deep blue eyes shadowed by 
their long dark lashes, looked sadly down upon 
the flowers she so loved. They were her best 
friends and knew she cared for them. 

The girl was dressed in a neat cotton gown, 
which as the wind in eddying gusts swept up from 
the sea, clung in graceful folds around her trim 
figure, then blew in and out, in pretty undulating 
curves. Theo was softly singing to herself some 
snatches of a song she had learnt, and as she 
sang, the rosy lips from time to time disclosed 
rows of white pearls. 

She started from her revery on hearing a famil- 
iar footstep, and turning her head, met her father’s 
stern but loving gray eyes. 

“ How does yer garden grow, Theo? That gale 
last night was strong enough to blow yer treasures 
away altogether. See, the sea even now is break- 
ing over 4 Shag ’ and 4 Mingo ’ like a mad creature,” 
and Captain Burton pointed with his thumb to the 
rocks, which were white with foam. 

44 My flowers, father, looked so sadly at me, I 
thought I would sing and cheer them up.” 

44 I’d wager we’d have fair weather as the day 
drags on, the wind hails from the northwest.” 

44 Do you think so, father ? I promised Peter 
when he came here day before yesterday, that if 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


19 


in two days the weather proved fair, I would go 
with him in his dory to Gosport to see old Nab- 
baye and Bennaye. Nabbaye is far from well, 
and needs looking after.” 

Seeing her father’s lips forming themselves into 
a no, she continued in a coaxing way, “ Mother 
was so fond of the old people, dear father.” 

“Aye! Aye! I know, but child let’s go to 
4 Theo’s Throne,’ and sit there ; while we do a bit 
of talking.” 

The narrow path, bordered on either side by 
clam shells, led down to a rock with a broad ledge, 
which nature had fashioned into a comfortable 
seat. This Captain Burton called “Theo’s 
Throne,” and would never allow any visitor to 
tread on the holy ground, or to invade the place. 
The father and daughter wandered down the little 
path and took their places on the rock. 

Beyond, over a stretch of powdered shells, the 
eyes of both rested on a small white headstone, 
which glistened in the sunlight. On its smooth 
surface they read the inscription: 

“ Cicily Burton, beloved wife of Anthony Bur- 
ton, Aged 45;” and underneath the words, 
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see 
God.” Such was the brief record of the life of wife 
and mother. It told its own story. No word was 
spoken. There were tears in the eyes of both. 

“ Theo child, I’ve been thinkin’ it ovei* ? that 


20 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


about yer goin’ to Star. Yer may go. ’Tis 
little enough of the outside world that yer see. 
I know young blood needs a chang.e now and then. 
Nabbaye’s all right, I guess, but the fisher folk 
I’d have you steer clear of. They're a bad lot, 
the whole of them. Your mother once said the 
very air of Gosport was poisoned with gossip. 
The yarns they tell have no begin nin’ and 
no end to them. They* would try and set 
yer against your own father. They are not fit for 
yer ears, Theo, yer that I have guarded and 
caged like a wee bird. I am no companion for 
my child in book learnin’ or anythin’ else much. 
I wish your mother would come back and tell me 
of the mistakes I keep makin’.” 

The old man’s eye rested again on the white 
headstone. A flock of sea birds hovered above 
with their snowy wings, and cast strange shad- 
ows on the ground, while one flew down and 
alighted for a moment on the stone. 

“Father, do not say such cruel things of your- 
self. You are so near and dear to me. Mother 
thought all you did was right, and I think so too.” 

The young girl lovingly wound her arms around 
his neck, and laid her fair head on his shoulder, 
while she gazed into her father’s face. 

“ Thank you for letting me go to Gosport to 
see Nabbaye. The sea is not as rough as it looks, 
and I will certainly return before night. These 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


21 


September days are so beautiful, and in winter 
for weeks together you know we- can not leave 
our island. I must make a purchase, father. 
Susan Daws sent me word that she had some good 
woolen cloth for dress goods. I would like to 
buy a few yards from her, enough for a dress pat- 
tern.” 

“That means an attack on the captain’s pocket ! 
Aye, Theo ? ” 

Without waiting for her to reply, he laid in his 
daughter's hands a gold piece, which he took from 
his leathern pouch. 

“ Yes, father, I will need some of the where- 
withal, but,” glancing at the coin, “what have 
you given me ? You are naughty to cheat your 
little Theo. See, father, it is an old foreign coin.” 

Captain Burton’s face fell. “ Nonsense, child, 
let me take a look at it. I have made a mis* 
take. Here’s another gold piece with which yer 
can buy all the ribbons and folderols yer so hanker 
after.” 

“Now father that’s what I call unfair; you know 
I never spend much on dress ; only for books, 
they are like real friends.” 

“I only wanted to tease yer, Theo. No one 
would ever say my girl was extravagant or vain. 
Only beware of the yarn spinners, and return be- 
fore sunset.” 

“ I think I’ll take the poor old creature some of 


22 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


my jelly. I made it only yesterday. Peter will 
not come for me until after dinner, so I will have 
plenty of time to put the house to rights. Father, 
I must dally no longer out here in the garden.” 

Suiting the action to the words, Theo ran 
lightly down the walk. The captain stood watch- 
ing her slight sylph-like figure, shading his eyes 
with one hand until she disappeared in the porch. 
He hurriedly drew his rough coat sleeve across 
his eyes, for he was thinking of his Cicily, when 
she came as a bride to her island-home. 

Captain Burton had married late in life, and 
Cicily Parker, a New Hampshire woman, had been 
the object of his choice. She was an orphan, her 
parents having died while she was quite young. 
Brought up by an aged uncle, she met by chance 
one day, the retired seaman, Captain Anthony 
Burton. He had come from his island, to bu}^ 
some fishing tackle of her uncle. Cicily was 
then in her nineteenth year, and very beautiful. 
It proved to be the story of love at first sight. 
The young girl remained with her uncle until his 
death, and then there being no other tie to bind 
her to the mainland, she accepted the love and de- 
votion of the old bachelor, promising to be to him 
a faithful wife, and this promise was lovingly kept. 

As the years rolled on, the husband, once rough, 
became greatly softened by the loving example of 
his dear one. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


23 


The young wife never knew what it was to see 
many strange faces, but she was very happy in her 
husband’s love. When the little baby girl came 
to brighten the lives of both, the father said she 
should be named Theodosia. He liked it. Cicily 
never asked the why or wherefore, but sweetly ac- 
quiesced, and thus the child bore the quaint old- 
fashioned Christian name which was shortened to 
Theo. 

The little one had a very sunny nature, and was 
from her very earliest years a great comfort to her 
mother, from the time when she lay cradled in her 
arms. No schoolmaster had influenced the life of 
little Theo, only the mother’s watchful eye and 
loving heart had guided the child’s education. 
Her smile of approval had helped the young 
student to persevere on the road of knowledge. 
Cicily Burton, having in her youth received a good 
education, was amply fitted to transmit it to her 
daughter. 

Nature had also been a good schoolmistress to 
Theo. She had talked to her through the waves, 
through the sunshine and the storm. Theo’s was 
a romantic soul, and the young girl learnt to live 
in two distinct worlds. As a child, after her tasks 
were finished, she would sit on the shelly shore 
and play With the blue and purple mussel shells, 
and striped cockles, which she would imagine little 
boats deserted by the sea fairies, and would send 


24 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


them sailing away on the waves. She loved also 
to look for bits of transparent quartz, white or 
rosy, or pieces of dull purple porphyry, all wet and 
clear, as they were washed to her feet by the in- 
coming foam. The child built tiny houses of 
these, and the wet gravel, inviting a few of the 
gray army of sand-hoppers, to come and live in 
them. These she would chase from their home 
under some bit of seaweed at the high water line, 
and gleefully clap her hands, as they hopped away 
in disgust, looking like tiny kangaroos. Or she 
would, while sitting on the rocks, cut out of the 
slippery varnished kelps, ridiculous figures of little 
old men, or queer shaped birds and animals, which 
the wind would wither up, and then carry away. 
The child would search for sea anemones, which 
hid themselves among the rocks, opening their 
lovely flowers to the waters ; or hanging in clus- 
ters like amber-colored fruit against the ledges as 
the waves receded. Then the tiny pools, forgot- 
ten by the ocean, left in the hollow of some rock, 
reflecting the blue of the heavens, spoke to Theo 
of God’s love. All through the long summer 
days, she talked with the blackberry blossoms, or 
the crowfoot, or the blue purple beach pea, or the 
pimpernel and wild roses. As the child grew 
older, there were days when the dreams grew more 
real. After storms she would find washed up on 
the rocks, the bodies of drowned butterflies and 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


25 


pretty birds with bits of driftwood, a broken oar, 
pieces of spar, or a water worn buoy. One day 
the body of a man was found, the face swollen and 
livid, the eyes sunken. Then Theo realized what 
life meant, it was all she knew of death. After 
this, the waves spoke to her as they had never be- 
fore done in her childhood. When they moaned, 
it was as if some human soul suffered ; when they 
sang it was of the sunshine, and of the God who 
made them. Then came the crushing blow when 
she found herself motherless. Her father she 
knew loved her deeply, but Captain Burton was a 
stern, morose man, and the sympathy the young 
girl needed came to her through her God and the 
fair world He had made. 

From her earliest years, the mother had taught 
her daughter to love and study the Bible. It had 
always been her own guide and counsellor, and 
she fully obeyed its holy precepts. There had 
existed but little sympathy in matters pertaining 
to religious things, between the captain and his 
wife ; thus the mother and daughter were drawn 
even more closely together. Theo’s soul was as 
pure and white as the wing of a sea bird, or the 
foam on the crest of the wave as it dashed upon 
the rocks. 

Once a month the two would attend divine 
service in the little church at Gosport, the wind 
and the seas permitting. 


26 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


The fisher folk in the village were almost all 
strangers to Captain Burton, his wife and daugh- 
ter. They shrank from the man’s stern unbend- 
ing nature. He was known as the “Silent man 
of Duck ” or “ The man with a black hand.” 
Visitors from the mainland, when questioning the 
inhabitants of Star about the little gray cottage 
and its occupants, as to how they lived, where 
they came from, etc. ? would be answered by a 
shake of the head, and a shrug of the shoulders. 
Captain Burton had built his cottage many years 
before he met the beautiful Cicily, while he was 
still quite a young man. Never had he talked 
about himself with the inhabitants of the Shoals. 
If he was asked why he chose Duck Island for his 
home, he would answer, that he had always been 
fond of the sea, and loved it too well to go away 
from it. How he lived no one knew; he seemed 
to have enough money, but was very close in his 
affairs. At last even the gossips grew tired of 
questioning, and the sole inhabitant of Duck 
Island, his wife and child were looked upon no 
longer as objects of curiosity or suspicion. 
Strange stories from time to time floated around, 
but the sea breezes carried them far away, and the 
man of Duck, now a widower, dwelt alone with 
his daughter in their island home. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


27 


CHAPTER III. 

“Cliffs of emerald topped with snow, 

That lift and lift, and then let go, 

A great white avalanche of thunder.” 

The dinner things were washed and laid care- 
fully away. Theo stood on the beach near the 
little landing place, her father by her side, await- 
ing the arrival of old Peter and the dory. 

Soon a tiny black speck was seen dancing on 
the waves. Nearer and nearer it came, until the 
little blue boat and its sole occupant, were close 
to them. As the fisherman rested on his oars his 
querulous voice was heard. 

“ Good day to yer, captain, and to yer, Miss 
Theo. I come as I promised, yer see. Nabbaye 
and Bennaye said they don’ know whe’r or no it’s 
best or no for me to venture. But my boat, she’s 
as pretty a piece of wood as ever floated. Strikes 
a sea and comes down like a pillow. So aknowin’ 
this, I says, I reckon there ain’t much danger, so 
I just got up and got.” 

Old Peter appeared like a very nncient fossil. 
Only a few white hairs graced his yellow pate ; his 
eyes, deep set and of a washed out blue, had a 


28 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


curious inquisitive way of looking out into the 
world. His lower jaw quite toothless, hung de- 
jectedly down, his upper lip caving in, showing 
likewise an absence of the masticating members. 

A patched red flannel shirt, loose trousers and 
a broad-brimmed straw hat formed the old fisher- 
man’s outfit. 

“ Wait a bit, Miss Tlieo, until I fetch yer into 
the skiff.” 

With these words, old Peter pulled up close to 
the little landing place. Tlieo jumped in, helped 
by her father, and the dory pushed off. 

“ Good-bye, father, good-bye.” 

Captain Burton waved his hat until they were 
hidden from view. 

Tlieo had many questions to ask Peter, as to the 
condition of old Bennaye and Nabbaye, all of 
which he answered in monosyllables, then sunk 
into a deep revery, from which she could not rouse 
him. The spray dashed into the faces of both, as 
the fisherman’s slow, even stroke brought them 
nearer to land. Tlieo’s cheeks grew rosy, and 
her eyes danced with delight. Soon they neared 
the little harbor of Gosport, and the young girl 
found herself before she knew it, on terra firma, 
standing before the tumble down cottage of old 
Bennaye. 

The poor man himself opened the door, giv- 
ing her a warm welcome. Nabbaye, the wife was 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


29 


bed ridden most of the time. She was a peculiar 
looking old creature, with a stubby growth of 
gray hair on her chin, a flabby face, the few re- 
maining locks tucked up under a closely fitting 
nightcap, which was boardered around by a deep 
ruffle. From under this, a pair of black eyes 
looked up into Theo’s. A pipe protruded from 
her mouth. 

“ Yer a Christian to come to see old Nabbaye. 
Thank yer ! Heaven bless yer ! Bennaye can’t 
yer fetch a settin’ support for the visitor? Yer 
ain’t got no manners, yer old creeper!” 

“ Slat my head off, Nabbaye, if I ain’t a fetchin’ 
one. I looked in the cupboard and under the 
bed, and couldn’t find any settin’ support, until I 
got this.” Holding in front of him a rickety 
chair, with a cane seat, which had quite a large 
hole in the middle of it. 

“ Here, Miss Theo ! Sorry to keep yer waitin’. 
I ain’t as cricketty as I once was.” 

44 See,” said Theo, seating herself on the apology 
for a chair which Bennaye brought her. 44 I have 
here in this basket some fresh eggs and a form of 
jelly, which I hope you will enjoy, Nabbaye.” 

44 Heens’ aigs ? well that is veraye good. I’m as 
dry as a graven image, and have been prayin’ the 
Lord fer heens’ aigs or a swallick of whiskey or 
hennything He feels like sendin’. Lor’, ’twan’t 
ne’er ordained that my ole man and me would live 


30 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


to be burdens to folks. I says to Bennaye last 
night 4 hake fishin’s ’ overdone. Poor Peter he 
fetches us all he can, but he done know nothin’ 
’bout it. What's he know? He’s so old he just 
sits in the sun, and chaws and chaws, and when 
he ain’t chawin’, his fishin’, or makin’ believe fish. 
I guess the fish knows his putty old, and can’t see 
good out of those faded calico eyes of his.” 

“Wal, Nabbaye, ye shut up! will yer? Chin- 
nin’ away like any old grans. Squint says, yer’s 
worse than the gulls. I ain't had any show yet.” 

“ Yer poor white faced chowder-head, yer too 
stupid to open yer mouth.” 

When Theo could get a word in edgewise, she 
found out from the old people about their ail- 
ments, and as to what they needed. But Nab- 
baye, never long silent, began again. 

44 There’s Brag and his wife, they’ve a new 
boarder. Some says he pays well. Some says he 
paints picters. Lor’ ! you'd laugh. ’Twas yesterday 
a week ago, when Mr. Allston, that's the boarder’s 
name, he come to our cottage and says he : 

“ 4 What a picturesque abode yer have ! Was it 
built many years ago ? ’ 4 1 dun know about pict- 
uresque,’ says I. 4 Lor’, ’twan’t never built, ’twas 
only hove together.’ Yer should ha* seen him laugh . 
Wal, he sot down and ’twan’t long afore be was a 
paintin’ me.” Nabbaye laughed heartily. 44 1 
guess he thought I wa’ putt}' ! ” 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


31 


Here Bennaye interrupted his wife. “ Billa}^ 
Rollins’ wife’s mother’s aunt's a dyin’ of consump- 
tion. Lor’ ! she’s a sight, eyes shove in, and down 
around the mouth ; her cheeks as red as apples. 
Ain’t yer goin’ to take her nothin’ t’ eat? Yer’s 
always so good to me and Nabbaye, that we feels 
selfish like.” 

“ I fear I will have but little time to see the in- 
valid, as I promised my father to return before 
sunset. However, the next time I come, I will 
try and bring her some things to tempt her appe- 
tite. I think Nabbaye, as I have errands to attend 
to, I must hurry away now. The days are grow- 
ing very much shorter you know.” 

With these words, Theo rose, and after tidying 
up the room a bit, and doing a few things which 
would add to the comfort of the old people, — she 
took her leave. After making her one purchase, 
and looking in upon the poor consumptive, she 
retraced her steps to the wharf where Peter and 
his blue boat awaited her. There were a few 
fishermen lounging around and smoking, talking 
over bits of village gossip. 

“Lor’!” said one, a big squarely-built fellow 
who stood by the side of a young man, evidently 
by his dress and general bearing he was a gentle- 
man. “ Here comes the daughter of the black- 
handed captain. Yer see we calls him that, cause 
he wears a black glove on his right hand, no one 


32 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


never seen him outer it. His real name’s Burton.” 

The eyes of the young man fell upon the grape- 
ful figure of Theo, who was just stepping into old 
Peter’s boat. 

“She is a very good-looking young girl,” the 
stranger replied. “ Where does she come from?” 

“She lives over there on Duck,” pointing with 
his thumb to the island in question. “ The}' be 
peculiar folks, her and her father. Never speaks 
to many, and keeps to themselves. The mother’s 
dead. That’s the daughter, Miss Theo, we calls 
her. Her father is a strafige man, never smiles if 
he knows it. The gal has a kind heart, they tells 
me. She ain’t like the father, havin’ more the 
mother’s stock in her makeup. She was from 
New Hampshire.” 

“ Do you think,” continued the stranger, as he 
was about turning away, “that this Captain Burton 
would take me in as a boarder for a few weeks? 
1 want to do some painting, and they tell me the 
spray dashing over Shag and Mingo rocks is worth 
seeing, and that the long black ledges are very 
picturesque, whitened, as they so often are, by the 
snowy plumage of the gulls.” 

“ That yer must find out for yerself. I don’ 
know whe’r or no it’s best or no. Yer must judge. 
The captain’s mighty queer, and strange yarns 
float about. Holy Smoke ! I guess he’s harm- 
less. Yer can try. Askin’s never done any hurt.” 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


33 


The old fisherman turned slowly away, and be- 
gan to examine his nets. The inhabitants of the 
Shoals were among the first to receive New En- 
gland Christianity and civilization, but after a 
time were given up to a state of semi-barbarism. 
In the year 1614, the islands were discovered by 
John Smith. Others soon followed, and the larger 
of the islands grew in population. 

In 1650, the Rev. John Brock, a lonely Christian 
man, went to live among the people, and his ex- 
ample and noble life bore fruit. In 1661, the 
general court incorporated the islands into a town 
and called it Appledore. In the same year there 
were about forty families living on Hog Island, 
but these removed afterward to Star. For more 
than a hundred years before the Revolution, there 
were from three to six hundred inhabitants, and 
three to four thousand quintals of fish Avere yearly 
caught and sold in Spain and the West Indies. 
The church was in a prosperous condition, and the 
people ready to hear the gospel. The settlement 
remained in this state until the Revolutionary 
war, when, on account of the dangers which 
threatened the islanders, they were ordered to 
leave and make their homes on the mainland. 
A few however remained, and they became 
degraded and lawless. The meeting house was 
burned, and drunkenness and debauchery alone 
reigned. 

( 3 ) 


34 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


Here in the earliest times Captain Kidd was 
thought to have buried some of his treasures, and 
other pirates found it a convenient place to hide 
some of their ill-gotten gains. From time to time 
many faithful Christian men and women labored 
among the “ Shoalers,” and tried to raise them 
from their forlorn condition. At the opening of 
our story, there were comparatively few people 
living in the little fishing village of Gosport. 
Their lives were full of hardships and poverty. 
The women grew old before their time. 

“ For men must work and women must weep, 

And there's little to earu and many to keep ; 

Tho’ the harbor bar be moaning.” 

Theo reached home safely in Peter’s snug dory. 
She found her father anxiously awaiting her. 

At supper time they talked over all that had 
been said and done, of all that Theo had heard 
while at Gosport, and it was late when the 
daughter sought her chamber. 

The night was chilly and dark. Nothing dis- 
turbed the stillness, but the noise of the waves 
beating on the rocks, or the shrill scream of the 
loons. The captain remained sitting by the table 
just as Theo had left him. Suddenly he started 
from his chair. A sound quite different from the 
cry of the loons, attracted his attention. He 
listened. It was a low whistle, and seemed to 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


35 


come from behind the window nearest him. He 
stepped forward, and raised the sash. A rough 
looking man stood before him. 

44 Anthony, old boy, let me in. I’ve been a long 
time waitin’ for that girl of yours to get out of the 
way. She's good-lookin’. You never let me see 
her, so I made up for lost time ! ” 

44 1 didn’t expect yer until to-morrow evenin’, 
Schuyler.” 

44 Why in thunder do you have such a poor 
memory. ’Tis the very day of the month, An- 
thony, that yer had a right to expect me. I’ve 
stowed my boat away. It’s no daylight business 
I’m on, when I come to see you ! — Aye, Anthony? 
There, give me your hand and I’ll jump the win- 
dow sill. I’m not a rightful skipper, but I can do 
this.” Suiting the action to the words, the rough 
visitor sprang into the room. 

44 Yer can be any kind of a tool, Jack, when you 
like the business.” 

The man addressed was a hard looking speci- 
man of humanity. He was evidently about sixty 
years of age. A crop of yellowish gray hair hung 
from under his shabby cap. This he removed, re- 
vealing a pair of bold, bad eyes, which furtively 
glanced about the little room. 

k4 You’re a nice comrade to give me such a warm 
welcome. One would think you’d like to see an 
old friend.” With these words he clapped the 


36 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


captain on the back and burst out into a coarse 
laugh. 

“ Hush, man, your voice will waken my Tlieo. 
I would not have her know that any one was 
here.” 

“Ashamed of your friend, Anthony? Yer’ll 
have to give me a bigger share of hush money, if 
yer want me to keep your secret. I am as good 
as yer any day.” He fixed bis evil eye on Cap- 
tain Burton’s faffe, and a sty, diabolical smile 
passed over his features. 

“Yer forget, Schuyler, that I also am keepin’ 
your secret. Man, we each have forged our 
chains, we must carry them until the end. Don't 
I give yer large enough pay ? ” 

“Aye, Anthony, hush money is a good thing, 
but now I want something more in payment for 
what I’ve done. I want yer daughter. Give 
her to me, and I’ll be satisfied.’’ 

Burton raised his arm as if to strike, his eyes 
flashed fire. “ Say those words again, Jack 
Schuyler, and it will be worse for yer. Don’t 
pollute my Theo’s name with your dirty tongue ! 
My little Tlieo! Great God, I would rather see 
her in her coffin, than share such a fate. Never 
speak her name again, or by the evil one himself, 
I’ll—” 

“ Harkee, comrade, I’ve been workin* fer too 
small pay, changin’ your dirty foreign gold and 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


37 


keepin’ your secrets. I swear I’ll do it no longer.” 

Burton trembled. He made a great effort to 
control himself. His hands remained clenched, 
and his mouth had a set look. 

Schuyler continued, “ Yer know, old boy, you’re 
in my power. Speak, which will it be? your gold 
or your daughter? It’s not in my line to waste 
words, and I’ve come to-night to put things 
through.” 

Captain Burton roused himself. “ Yer always 
did enjoy a joke, Jack, and yer jokin’ now. My 
Theo is as far above yer as the white sea gull is 
above the porpoise. Nay, yer shall never touch 
my girl.” 

“ Ha ! but your secret, and yer gold ! ” 

“We have always been good comrades. Here 
take this extra pouch for yourself. I was goin’ 
to ask you to change it. Keep it, Jack, I’ve 
enough left over from what you last changed for 
me.” 

“ I’ll use some of it for number one, but, An- 
thony, this once and this once only, will I take the 
gold and change it for yer. They begin to look 
at me suspiciously, and ask where so many foreign 
pieces come from. I will have my pay. Give me 
your daughter and a round sum, or else give me 
half of yer ill gotten gains. Or when I return 
in two weeks’ time, and if you’ve not made up your 
mind, it'll be worse for yer! I’ll be revenged, X 


38 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


swear by heaven, I will ! Beware ! beware of 
bringin' the daylight to shine on the dark past. 
Think of the disgrace ! Yer child need never 
know about it. I'll marry her, and go away to 
foreign parts. She'll believe in her father’s 
honor,” lie continued with a sneer. 

“ Yer forget! Yer have a wife.” Great beads of 
sweat stood on Burton’s forehead. ‘‘I have the 
proof.” 

“ That is already managed, she is no longer 
my wife, the law gives me the right to put her 
away.” 

“ Her money ! What have yer done with that, 
wretch ? ” 

“Ha! ha! ha! that’s safe, where you’ll never 
find it. I'll tell a hard story, should yer force her 
back on me. I’ll tell the world she belongs to 
yer. I'll go now, as I said, but I’ll return, and 
have my answer ! ” 

With these words Jack Schuyler raised the sash, 
and sprang out into the darkness. 

Burton stood as he had left him, with 
clenched hands and knotted brows. He list- 
ened for the splash of the oars and the 
swash of the waters, as the boat was rowed 
away. Then he drew to the shutters, wound 
up the clock, and taking the lamp in his 
band, passed upstairs to his room. As he 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


39 


went he muttered, “ Wretch! What’s my secret 
worth, my own life even, if harm should fall on 
Theo’s head? Cicily, she’s yer child and yer 
first taught me the right ! ” 


40 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


CHAPTER IV. 

# 

“Beneath the loveliest dream there coils a tear.” 

The next morning, Tlieo and her father met in 
the cosy little kitchen at the breakfast table. A 
bright fire was burning in the stove, and the tea- 
kettle was boiling and singing its song of content, 
while the family pet, Gray, softly purring, lay 
half asleep on the rug. 

“Tlieo, didn’t yer rest well last night? Yer 
lb ok pale this mornin’.” 

“ The wind beat against the house, and rattled 
the windows so that I thought I would never close 
my eyes. Then once, it was just before 1 suc- 
ceeded in dropping off, I thought I heard a coarse 
laugh. ‘ Ha ! ha ! ha ! ’ it went. However, of 
course, it was the wind.” 

“ What an imagination yer have, child. I’ll 
make the sashes a bit tauter, so that they'll not 
rattle. The wind did blow a gale last night. I 
thought myself that I heard whistlin’.” 

“ But, father, even when I slept, I had such 
horrible dreams. I fancied I was in our dory all 
alone by myself. Suddenly there rose out of the 
water the figure of a beautiful woman. She had. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


41 


a Bible in her clasped hands, and looked into my 
face so pleadingly. 4 Save me,’ she said, 4 save me, 
I pray you.’ Before I could stretch out my hand, 
she sank under the waves. There was such a 
tone of anguish in her voice, father; even now I 
can hear her imploring me to save her. 1 awoke 
in terror. Before me stood a woman, with a 
strange look on her face. She was bending over 
me. 4 He will come , lie will come again,’ she said. 
I put out my hand to push her from me, but there 
was no one there. It must have been a dream as 
well, and yet I seemed to be wide awake.” 

During his daughter’s recital, Captain Burton 
remained very quiet, shading his eyes with one 
hand so that she could not see his face. At 
last he spoke. 44 You have had strange dreams, 
Theo. Was anythin’ said to yer yesterday about 
Captain Scott’s lovely lady ? Her ghost is said to 
haunt these islands.” 

44 No, father, what is the story ? Can you tell 
it to me ? ” 

44 Years ago Captain Teach, called Blackbeard, 
and his comrade, Captain Scott, came to the 
Shoals, on one of which he, Captain Scott, buried 
his treasures, leavin’ his fair lady to guard it durin’ 
his absence. He and his pirate friends went off 
on a plunderin’ expedition, and came to a violent 
death, bein’ all blown up in a powder magazine. 
The poor creature in time died, and her ghost is 


42 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


said to haunt the islands, sayin’, 4 He will come ! 
he will come again! ’ She wears a seaman’s cloak, 
and her long, golden hair falls over her shoulders ; 
her eyes have a melancholy expression. It was 
this strange lady }'er were dreamin’ of, she per- 
haps appeared to yer in yer sleep.” 

- 4k No, father, the one I saw was not like the per- 
son you describe. Her eyes, father, haunt me yet, 
those of the woman by my bed. There were other 
words she said, 4 You are in danger ! beware ! ’ ” 

44 Dreams are indeed strange things, Theo. I 
never set much store by them.” 

44 Life is too real and earnest, father, I must be 
lip and doing — so to work I go! ” 

44 Well, Theo, to come down to the practical 
side of life. I want yer durin’ the day sometime, 
to mend the large fishnet. It got damaged last 
week. To day I will try my luck over near 
4 Bone.’ Mackerel, herring and blue fish, as well 
as perch, are now pretty plentiful. We must lay 
in a supply for ‘flakin’.’ Yer can put me up some 
victuals, for I shan't return afore night. 1 don’t 
like to l’eave yer, Theo. If old Peter, or any stray 
visitor comes over from Star, yer can be hospitable 
to them. It’s a fine day and this weather ain’t 
goin’ to last much longer.” 

After her father’s departure, Theo, as busy as a 
bee, went about her work. Hers was such a 
sunny nature. There was the bread to be baked, 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


43 


and her new gown must be cut and basted- The 
kitchen clock bad just struck three, when sud- 
denly she started to her feet, as she heard a knock 
at the door. Advancing timidly, she slowly 
opened it. There stood before her a handsome 
man of about thirty. 

“ I presume this is Captain Burton’s house,” he 
said, politely, removing his hat. “ And you, are 
you Miss Burton, the captain’s daughter?” 

“ Yes,” answered Tlieo. “ What is there that I 
can do for you ? My father has gone out fishing, 
but he will be back before dark.” 

“ I regret your father’s absence, Miss Burton, 
as I have a great favor to ask of him. It may be 
best for me to return to-morrow and acquaint him 
with it. My name is Allston. I am a lawyer, but 
as my health has become shattered by being too 
closely confined, I determined to spend a few 
weeks on these islands, where I hope to regain my 
strength. Your wonderful sea air has already 
done much for me, and the rest and quiet are just 
what I need. I have been staying at Star for 
three weeks, and thought I would, like to visit 
Duck, as it is even further away from civilization. 
Do you think your father would take me in only 
for a month?” Seeing the young girl’s look of 
hesitation, he added, “ I will promise to give you 
no trouble, Miss Burton.” 


44 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


“ We have never had any one with us since my 
mother died. If you care to wait until father re- 
turns, I will find out his wishes.” 

“ Thank you, Miss Burton. I will amuse myself 
out on the rocks by doing some sketching, until 
the captain returns. I am not an artist, but I 
love to daub a little now and then, when the fancy 
seizes me. Pray do not let me longer detain you.” 

Theo modestly blushed, and retired to the 
kitchen, where she resumed her sewing. She was 
so busy planning her new gown, that she quite for- 
got about the stranger. Suddenly she looked up 
from her work, the shadows were deepening and 
the day drawing to a close. Hastily laying aside 
her gown, she rose, and was about to pick up 
some of the threads that had fallen on the floor, 
when the door was pushed open, and her father 
stood before her, the young stranger just behind 
him. 

“Well, Theo, busy as ever? Mr. Allston’s 
told me of his wish to remain for a few weeks on 
our little island. If we can make him comfort- 
able, my daughter he is welcome.” Then turning 
to Mr. Allston he said, “ The guest chamber over 
the parlor ain’t large, but it’s neat and sunny. I 
think yer can be happy there. Theo, will } r er see 
about its bein’ put in order?” 

“ Yes, father,” and she hurried away, to do as 
she was bidden. The room being made ready, 


45 


A SECRET OF E SEA. 

Mr. Allston took possession of his new quarters. 
The father and daughter were alone in the kitchen. 

“ Our guest seems to be a sensible fellow. I 
hope, Theo, yer will do all yer can for his com- 
fort.” 

“ He is a stranger to us father, and I can not 
see why you take such an interest in him.” 

“ My child, years ago in my early life I knew 
some one bearin’ the same name. I’ve always 
felt that it would give me some satisfaction to do 
what lay in my power for any person, either a 
connection or only one having the name. Then, 
too, we have had no strangers with us since yer 
mother died. Her last words to me were ‘An- 
thony, our Theo must see a bit of the world. 
Do not keep her too much alone.* ” 

“I have never missed the society of the world, 
dear father. While I have you, I want none 
else, only mother.** A tear rolled down Theo’s 
cheek. “ It seems to me I long more and more 
as the days pass on for a loving touch of her hand, 
or one of her sweet smiles. She will not come 
back to us, but we will go to her.” 

“ Aye ! child, if weTe good enough. My soul 
ain’t as white as yours. There’ll be time enough, 
however, when the last comes ; I ain’t goin’ to 
cross the bridge till I get to it.” 

“ No, father,” and Theo’s face grew so earnest, 
“now is the accepted time, and Christ calls you. 


4G 


A SECRET OE THE SEA. 


It is dangerous to wait. We can never know 
© 

what one day may bring to any of us.” 

“Well, Tlieo, I’ll think it over. Hark! I hear 
footsteps on the stairs. Our guest is coinin’ down 
from his perch.” 

Just at that moment Mr. Allston entered the 
room. 

“ You have given me a charming chamber, 
Captain Burton. I felt as I looked from my win- 
dow, that I was far out at sea on board of some 
vessel; only the motion was lacking. You have 
fine views of the great limitless expanse of 
waters.” 

“ Yes, I never tire myself of our island. But,” 
rising from his chair, “ I forgot about my fishin' 
gear, I must go out and see after it. Will yer 
give me a hand at it? Tlieo, we will leave yer 
mistress of the kitchen. So make the best of yer 
time. I'm that hungry, shoe-leather would go 
down. Mr. Allston, after breathin’ in so much salt 
air, will also need plenty of victuals.” The two 
men left the room. 

Supper was soon made ready by Theo’s skilful 
hands. Both men declared they had dined like 
kings. The evening passed most pleasantly, 
Mr. Allston grew to feel quite at home as they 
sat in the neat little sitting-room, before a cheer- 
ful fire, telling stories and talking over the events 
of the year. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


47 


After a while the conversation turned upon 
character. Mr. Allston remarking, “I can al- 
ways read a man’s character, by glancing in his 
eyes , the eyes give away many secrets.” 

“Yes,” continued the captain, “but all the 
same yer make mistakes. Tell me what my 
character is like ? ” 

“ Yours, captain, — let me see.” He fixed his 
eyes on Burton’s gray eyes. “ You have had a 
history, I should judge. Some trouble. This 
came to you when you were young. What it is, 
I do not know, of course. I am afraid I judge 
from your right hand on which you seem to wear 
a black glove. Are you aware, the people on 
Star call you the black handed man of Duck? 
Why do you wear the glove, captain?” 

The captain’s color changed. “ I have a 
strange fancy for the glove. It’s only a fancy. 
The people on Star are nothin’ but yarn-spinners. 
They’ve made up out of whole cloth, more stories 
than the one about me and my family. I care 
little for the things they say. They roll off my 
back as easily as water off a duck’s. A queer 
world we live in, Mr. Allston! A queer world!” 

“ Yes, captain, but very often we who live in 
it, make it queer. God gave it to us beautiful 
and pure ; we make the world what it is. Each 
life knows its own bitterness, each back carries 
its burdens.” 


48 


A SEctiEV OF THE SEA. 


“ Yes, Ml*. Allston,” interrupted Theo’s clear 
voice. “But there is the Burden Bearer you 
know.” 

“ Do you believe in priestly confession, Mr. 
Allston ? ” 

“ I've always felt there must be many folks in 
the world who long to talk over their troubles 
with some one.” 

“ No doubt there are a great many, but you 
know we have a great High Priest, who is touched 
with the feeling of infirmities, who knows our 
failings, our struggles.” 

“ Yes, but somehow He seems far away from 
poor mortals.” 

“ Father, excuse me Mr. Allston, if we draw 
nigh unto Him, He will draw nigh unto us. 
Mother said so, and the Bible says the same.” 

“ Theo, you oughter be a female preacher, 
there’s lots of ’em now among the Quakers.” 

The young gil l’s face fell. “ I am not worthy 
of such an honor, dear father.” 

“Well, it seems to me we’ve been havin’ a 
regular Methodist meetin’. I say we all go to bed.” 

“ Such talks,” continued Allston, “ never hurt 
anyone. We live on earth I know, but the 
other world’s nearer than some of us dream. 
Good night, captain. Good night, Miss Burton. 
Pleasant dreams to you both ! ” With these 
words, he rose and left the room. Theo followed, 


A SECRET OE THE SEA. 


49 


and the captain alone with his thoughts, sat be- 
fore the fire far into the night. The words of 
the stranger sounded in his ears. “ The other 
world’s nearer than some of us dream ! ” 

4 


■1 


60 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


CHAPTER V. 

‘ The month of carnival of all the year, 

When nature lets the wild earth go its way — 

And spend whole seasons on a single day.” 

Days passed, October came. The golden -rod, 
asters, the bay berry and everlasting still lingered. 
The weather was mild and beautiful. 

Just as the sun was setting, Theo Burton, the 
young stranger, Mr. Allston by her side, stood 
before the cottage door. Neither spoke, both 
seemed lost in admiration at the' wonderful beauty 
of the scene. The cry of the plover and the 
curlew could be heard, and away off in the dis- 
tance, a school of porpoises were discernible as 
they turned over and over in the water. Fleecy 
clouds piled in many fantastic ways, some ablaze 
with gold and crimson, covered the heavens ; 
while above the horizon, a long line of carmine 
stretched itself. Another figure joined the group 
— it was Captain Burton. 

“ We’re goin’ to have a good gale before morn- 
in’. When yer see the sky look like that, it 
means business. Theo, yer’d better see if the 
shutters work well. I’ve been doin’ some jobbin 1 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


51 


this noon. We must get ready for nasty weather. 
Yer won’t sleep much to-night, Mr. Allston. Our 
island is quite safe, but when there's a storm, we 
generally get the worst of it.” 

As the captain spoke, he raised to his eyes a 
glass, which he had brought from the house. 

“Aye, there’s a boat makin’ for Duck, as sure 
as I’m standi n’ here. No, she will turn toward 
Star, I guess.” A close observer would have seen 
the captain’s face flush, then grow paler. 

Wheeling suddenly around, he absently made 
his way toward the cottage, muttering to himself. 
“ ’Tis just two weeks, and the villain, true to his 
word, has come for an answer. Theo,”he called, 
“I'll take my supper alone to-night. Fetch me 
some bread, cheese and a little spiced fish.” 

“ Why, it’s very early, father.” 

“ Aye ! aye! but I’ve work to do that will keep 
me busy, some carpentering in the shed, and then 
the wood needs splitting. It’ll take me most all 
the evenin’, and I don’t want to be disturbed. 
Mind, you and Mr. Allston must not talk too 
mucin After your supper yer might light the 
lamp, and go into the sittiii’-room.” 

Theo looked surprised, but as she had been 
brought up never to question her father as to his 
doings, she simply remarked, “ Very well, I will 
fill the lantern for you, as the woodhouse is but 3, 
gloomy place*” 


52 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


After the captain had finished his frugal meal, 
he betook himself to the woodhouse, and carefully 
locked the door on the inner side, the one leading 
into the kitchen, and arranged his logs for split- 
ting. Still he did not begin work. The sun had 
long since set. As the captain had predicted, a 
gale had sprung up, which was gaining momen- 
tarily in violence. The windows of the cottage, 
notwithstanding the work he had done', rattled 
loudly. The cry of the loons could be heard. 
He looked out of the little window, over the black 
expanse of water. Yes, the tiny speck was 
coming nearer. Opening the door leading into the 
garden, he closed it carefully behind him. Theo 
and young Allston were eating supper. By 
going around back of the house he would not be 
seen in the dim light. He approached the land- 
ing place, against which the waves were furiously 
dashing, and stood waiting. The tiny speck 
proved to be a boat containing a single man. It 
came nearer and nearer, and at last touched the 
wharf. The occupant sprang on the landing, 
holding the rope in his hand. On observing 
Captain Burton, he started uneasily, then suddenly 
recovering himself said, “Hello, Anthony! So 
ver thought you’d come and meet yer old friend, 
did yer? It’s pleasant to have someone waitin’ 
for yer.” Fastening the rope to one of the piles 
he made his way by the captain’s side to a group 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


53 


of rocks, behind which they could stand and talk, 
being concealed from the cottage, even were it 
possible in the semi blackness to distinguish any- 
thing. They were shielded as well from the 
wind. 

“ ’Tis a bad night, Anthony. You'll know it, if 
I go off this island before mornin*. You'll have 
to put up with me. I’ve come for my answer, old 
boy. Are you ready with it? Your daughter 
ain't bad lookin’. She'll take all the polish from 
me ! ” Opening his huge jaws he laughed, show- 
ing two rows of long yellow teeth. 

“ Hush, Joe, don’t speak so of my little girl. I 
told yer last time and I tell yer again, she ain't 
for such as yer.” 

“ For such as me ? Ha ! ha ! ha ! Anthony, 
then for the gold ! One or the other, yer know. 
I’ve come to collect my dues, so yer might as well 
be pleasant about it.” 

“ When my daughter marries, ’twill be to one 
who's worthy of her, not one like you or me.” 

“None of yer sermons, Anthony — we’re only 
wastin’ words. Ducats or daughter ? ” Schuyler's 
hand rested on the pistol which he wore in his 
belt, his face worked convulsively. “ Show me 
where your treasure’s hid. I’ve kept your secret 
a long time, but I’ll be hanged if I keep it much 
longer.” 

Ilurton stood facing his antagonist. 


54 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


“ Yer don’t care to have me take care of yer 

9 ” 

“ Stop, that’s in the agreement. No backing 
out, or it ’ll be worse for yer. There’s no escape 
for yer. Half, or yer daughter!” Alone, and 
struggling inwardly, he turned fiercely upon 
Schuyler. “ Follow me ! ” he said, and led the 
way to the woodhouse. Both entered. Captain 
Burton laid his finger on his lips to enforce silence. 

He then took the ax in his hand, and began to 
hack at a great thick log. “She thinks Fin 
workin’ — splittin’ wood for the winter. I told her, 
yer know. I guess that’s enough noise for the 
present.” He took the lantern Theo had given 
him, placing a smaller folding one in the hands 
of his companion. 

Removing the boards and the circular bit of 
wood which covered the opening, he bade Schuy- 
ler follow. Down the stone steps went both men. 
As they reached the cave, the roving eyes of the 
villain lighted on the chests and bags ; they danced 
with expectation. 

“Be generous, Anthony, I’m yer true friend, 
yer know.” 

The captain began to untie with trembling 
fingers the cord which bound the neck of one of 
the bags. 

“ Give all in that to me, partner. Remember 
the bargain ! ” 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


5o 


“ I’ll give yer half, and no more,” moodily an- 
swered the captain ; “ half of the contents of that 
bag, which contains only gold, and half of the 
contents of the other which contains silver. The 
third I'll see about.” Schuyler held his lantern 
close to the mouth of the sacque. 

“You’re rich Anthony, rich as ” 

“ Hold your tongue, Schuyler, this is not a 

time for words. Yer a ” 

“ Take care man, the secret. About that chest 
over yonder, what am I to have of its contents? 
There are two of them, I see.” 

u Yer to have half of the bars of silver and 
a few of the jewels. The silver, some of it came 
from ” — Captain Burton looked suspiciously about 
him. “What is that over there? I thought I 
saw somethin’.” 

“ No ears or ej T es here, Anthony ; only devils 
inhabit the lower regions. You and I do make 
a good pair.” 

“ I know, Joe, I have done wrong in my life, 
but now I’m goin’ to part company with yer 
forever. It’s for Tlieo’s sake.” His eyes grew 
moist as he thought of his child. “ She must never 
know about all this. I’ll get the gold changed 
myself, and will no longer need yer.’* 

“ Ha ! ha ! ha ! Yer don’t get rid of me as easy 
as all that. If I’m to lose yer valuable friend- 
ship, I’ll have more than half, by thunder, I will 1 ” 


56 


A SEC R ET OF THE SEA. 


lie raised his arm as if to strike, and his black eyes 
blazed like coals of fire. “Ha! ha! ha! Yer 
think to pull the wool over my eyes! I'll tell yer, 
Joe Schuyler ain't the man to be fooled. Dam 
yer, man, and the whole business! It never paid 
me, ’taint my way of makin’ money!” 

“ I've given yer more than your share, and yet 
yer ain't satisfied. What else de yer want ? ” 

“ Your girl ! ” 

“ My daughter? Mention her name again, 
and I'll not answer for the consequences ! It was 
a bad day when I told yer the yarn about my 
early life.” 

“ Too much whiskey plaj^s the devil with a man, 
partner, and yer gave yourself away. Only be 
thankful there was no one else to overhear your 
secret. Many’s the occasion I wanted to tell on 
yer, but 1 pulled myself up just in time. I've 
kept it these twenty years, but I ain't goin’ ter 
much longer, if yer turn me off, and don’t give 
me a bigger share of your fortune. You old 
miser! I believe yer've hidden away under some 
of these rocks, any number of chests and bags. 
Swear man, is this all you possess? or, by Heaven, 
I'll be even with yer ! ” 

Captain Burton looked Joe Schuyler in the 
eyes and swore. “ I’ve never broken my word to 
yer, and yet yer doubt jne now,” be huskily con- 
tinued. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


57 


“ That's more than I know, comrade. I can’t 
see inside of yer.” An evil light shone in the 
black eyes. 

Captain Burton staggered back against the wall 
of the cave, gasping for breath, then fell heavily 
on the floor. His face was pale and pinched, the 
eyes dull and dilated, the skin cold, while he 
shivered as if in an attack of ague. 

Joe Schuyler glanced carefully at the prostrate 
form. 

“ Do yer feel ill, Anthony? Here,” taking a 
small black bottle from his pocket and holding it 
to the lips of the man he hated. “ Drink this, it 
will make yer feel better.” The nervous strain 
had been too great, Captain Burton seemed to be 
suffering from a condition of shock, prostration, 
or utter collapse. He made no resistance, as 
Schuyler poured the mixture down his throat, but 
lay in a semi-conscious condition. 

“ There, that will keep the old man quiet for a 
time, at least ! Now to work.” 

Walking over to the huger chest, which had as 
yet been unopened, he forced the lock, taking the 
greater part of the bars of silver, besides trinkets 
and some plate. These he placed carefully in a 
square sacque, which he had carried folded up 
under his pea-jacket. This he filled with the gold 
and silver coins from the remaining bags. How 
dimly the lantern burned, he could hear the 


58 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


howling of the wind, the storm was gaining in 
violence. 

“ I have five hours yet before me to spend in 
this dark hole,” he said to himself; “ the drug will 
keep Anthony quiet for some time yet. I’d rather 
be here than out in the storm on such a 
night. How quiet the house seems. The girl 
must have gone to bed.” He sat down on the 
floor beside his bag, took from his pocket a 
large old-fashioned timepiece, called a turnip, 
and looked at it. 

“ Ha ! 'tis just nine. So long as that old bag of 
bones sleeps, and it ain’t likely .he'll wake up yet 
awhile, I can enjoy myself. Let me think.” He 
buried his head in his hands. “At twelve, I’ll 
make for the girl. I'll chloroform the pretty bird. 
The stuff seems to work well on her father. 
Wonder she doesn't miss Anthony.” Drawing 
another bottle from his hip pocket, marked “whis- 
key,” he took a good pull at it and laid himself 
down on the stone floor, not far away from his 
victim. His eyes partially closed, red and bleared, 
glared fixedly upon the boot}\ He had left noth- 
ing of much value in the chests, both bags being 
small he had emptied into his. There remained 
yet one, a quarter full. He would try and 
sleep. Now and then a rat ran across his legs. 
The close air of the cave seemed at times un- 
bearable* 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


59 


“ The gold,” he muttered, “ the gold — it’s mine ! 
And I’ll have the girl as well! Ha! ha! ha!” 
Ha!” ha! ha !•” echoed the walls. 

Tlieo Burton and young Allston had gone after 
supper, into the little sitting-room. Tlieo busied 
herself with her knitting. She was making her 
father a pair of warm stockings. Allston sat not 
far away by the round table ; a book lay before 
him, but he was not reading. The white Angora 
cat lay curled up at her young mistress's feet — 
apparently enjoying the warmth from the cheerful 
fire. The firelight fell on Theo’s pretty hair, mak- 
ing it appear like gold, and on the steel needles as 
they rapidly moved back and forth. 

Her blue eyes had a far away look in them; she 
seemed quite oblivious of all about her, not notic- 
ing that Mr. Allston’s handsome face was turned 
toward her. 

“A penny for } r our thoughts, Miss Theo,” he 
said at length. u I’ve been wondering how long 
we would both sit here, and say nothing.” 

“A penny for my thoughts, did you say, Mr. 
Allston? Well, I will tell you of what I was 
thinking. I was thinking,” here she stopped, and 
fixed her eyes on the young man’s face. “I was 
thinking of dear father, and wondering why he 
has always seemed so sad. Why he never jokes 
and laughs as other people do. It is so nice to 
have you here, Mr. Allston, to have some company 


60 A SECRET OF THE SEA. 

when father is busy. It is such a dreary night, and 
if you were not here I should be quite alone. I hate 
the thought of the coming winter, for I love the 
summer so dearly, and my flowers. You see I’ve 
never seen many persons, and you talk just like a 
book, you know so much about the outside world, 
about people and things. Your ideas are so clever.” 

“ I am glad you find me such an interesting 
study, Miss Theo,” and the young man laughed 
heartily. “No one ever cared to listen to my 
stupid talk, no one, but my sister. She died some 
years ago. I wish she had lived, for had she done 
so, I should have been a better man in every way. 
A sister is a great help to a fellow.” 

“ Now tell me, Mr. Allston, of what you were 
thinking ? ” 

“ I was thinking of this same sister. Somehow, 
you made me think of her.” 

“I? How nice.” 

“ Once upon a time, (by the way it was only a 
year ago, it seems longer) I became engaged to a 
young southern girl, but,” he hesitated, “she came 
north to study art, and — well — I suppose she grew 
tired of my stupid letters — or, I should say of my 
stupid self, and we quarreled, then partedl” 

“ I’ve read in books about love and such things. 
It must seem strange to care for any one more than 
for one’s father or mother. Did she, the young 
southern girl, really care for you like that ? ” 


) 


A SECRET OR THE SEA. 61 

“Yes, she — well she seemed to — we were both 
of us young,” and with a sigh. “ It’s ancient his- 
tory now.” 

“ Did you love her just as I love my father, Mr. 
Allston ? ” ' 

“Yes, but then it was not just the same as your 
love for your father. It was different. I can't 
explain, Miss Tlieo,” the young man smiled. 

“ Don’t laugh at me, please. What is love 
really ? Story book love always seemed to me so 
false.” 

In blank surprise at the naive question her com- 
panion turned awkwardly awa} r . 

“It is you, Miss Theo, who are an interesting 
study. Do you really want your question an- 
swered ? ” 

“ Yes, please.” 

“Love, why it’s adoration, devotion, or — confound 
me ! ” aside “ (I’m getting into deep waters) a, — a 
forgetting of self and giving all to the beloved 
one, sympathy, and, — I never had a girl ask me 
such a question before ! k Let’s look it up in the 
dictionary. You have one, have you not? I 
thought I saw it in the bookcase.” 

“ Yes, we have.” Theo rose, crossed the room, 
opened the glass doors, and took out a large 
square volume. Placing it on the table, both 
bent over the pages, while Mr. Allston found 
what he wanted. 


62 


A SECRET OE TEE SEA. 


“ Here, we have it, all in black and white, 
Miss Then. I will read it to you. ‘Love, a feeling 
of strong attachment, induced that which de- 
lights or commands admiration, especially, de- 
voted attachment to, or tender or passionate af- 
fection for the opposite sex ; to have the feeling 
of love ; to be in love.’ Hark ! did you not hear 
a noise ? ” 

“ It is the wind rattling the shutters.” 

“No, Miss Tlieo, listen.” 

“ Ah, I hear it, that is my father, he is sawing 
wood for our winter supply. He is in the wood- 
house, } T ou know.” 

Satisfied by the explanation, young Allston 
leaned back in his chair. Theo had resumed her 
seat b) r the fire. The white cat, roused from her 
nap, had crossed over to the young man, taking 
refuge close to his feet. From time to time he 
would playfully touch pussy with the toe of his 
boot. 

It was late, the lamp burned dimty. Suddenly 
there came a lull in the storm. The door slowl)- 
opened, and there stood before them a woman 
wrapt in a long cloak. She fixed her large eyes 
on them. Mr. Allston rose hurriedly, and was 
about to address the intruder, when in a low 
melancholy voice, she spoke 

“He will come— he will come again. Beware! 
Beware ! He will come.” 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


63 


“ Who ? ” replied Allston. The apparition had 
vanished. 

“Hush,” said Theo — “it is the lady, the ghost 
of pirate Scott’s wife. She sometimes appears be- 
fore some great trouble, they say. I have seen 
her but one other time. Theo’s face was pale. 
Great drops of perspiration stood on Allston’s 
forehead. 

“ ’Tis strange, we were both of us wide awake.” 
He passed his fingers through his brown curls. 
“ That certainly was real, I never did believe in 
ghosts, but this is too much.” 

At that moment the house seemed to rock at its 
very foundations ; the concussion of the breakers 
caused the cupboard shelves to shake, they heard 
the dishes fall crashing on the floor. The noise 
was deafening. Mad nature seemed to be lashing 
herself; all was chaos and confusion. 

Allston stepped forward, and stood beside the 
young girl. “Are you afraid, Miss Theo? Is 
there danger of the timbers giving away, think 
you ? ” 

“ No, our cottage has weathered many a gale.” 

The doors were swinging on their hinges and 
squeaked and groaned as backward and forward 
they swayed. 

“ God have mercy on any boat that approaches 
our treacherous ledges to-night.” 

Just then a violent gust blew down the 


64 A SECRET OF THE SEA. 

chimney, sending clouds of smoke and sparks 
into the middle of the room. “Hark! did you 
hear that strange cry, Miss Theo? Someone is 
on the rocks ! ” 

“Call my father. Quick! or it will be too 
late.” 

Allston ran out of the room, making his way to 
the wood ho use. 

“Captain Burton! Captain Burton ! There is 
someone on the rocks ! ” 

The woodhouse was dark, there was something 
uncanny in the whole thing; he saw this at a 
glance. 

Schuyler had, as we know, remained quietly in 
the cave, waiting for the time when he hoped to 
get possession of the beautiful girl he so coveted. 

Becoming, as the hours dragged on, very tired 
of remaining on the hard cold floor, he stealthily 
crept out, carrying the bag on his shoulder. This 
he deposited outside of the woodhouse, under 
some bushes, and made his way through the 
kitchen across the little hallway. Here he 
crouched down in a dark corner and listened to 
the conversation that passed between the young 
people. 

He had never dreamt that any guest was in 
the house, the captain had not told him. He 
realized that he had a more difficult game to play 
than he imagined. He too, had seen the ghost as 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


65 


it passed out of the door into the night, and heard 
the wild screams, which he knew so well. 

When young Allston ran out, calling “ Captain 
Burton, Captain Burton !” — he made good use of 
his absence by rushing into the sitting-room and 
seizing the paralyzed Theo. Thrusting his hand- 
kerchief into her mouth, so that she could make 
no sound, he took her in his sinewy arms, opened 
the door, and passed out into the storm. The 
wind and salt spray dashed into the faces of both. 
Schuyler, with his precious burden made his way, 
as best he could, to a group of rocks. Here he 
laid Theo down, binding her feet and hands 
with a piece of rope. This was unnecessary, for 
she had fainted. 

“ I can stay here until early morning, they will 
think the ghost carried her off. ,, Running to the 
currant bush, he picked up his large bag and made 
his way back to Theo’s side. “ The gale is already 
abating, and then, away with daughter and 
ducats ! ” 

The figure at his feet stirred. He had removed 
the handkerchief from her mouth. 

“ Father ! Mr. Allston ! I can not move my feet 
or hands ! ” 

“Ha, my pretty bird! You needn’t worry 
about your father or the young man. I’ll be 
everythin’ to yer.” He stooped and looked into 
her face. Theo was now quite herself. 

5 


66 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


“ Am I alive or dreaming,” she said half aloud. 
“Who is this terrible one, who is with me? 
Father ! father ! ” she cried. The winds answered, 
father ! father ! 

“ Now, young woman, there ain’t much use 
your makin’ a row. You belong to me now, and 
your father can’t help yer, that’s certain.” 

A great black film passed over her eyes, her 
brain reeled. For the second time she fainted. 

“ She’s all right,” Schuyler muttered. “ She’ll 
come to herself. Time flies faster than I thought.” 

“Miss Theo ! Miss Tlieo ! Where are you?” 
A figure carrying a lantern, approached the rocks. 
It was Allston. At a glance, he saw the young 
girl’s pale face, and above her, stood what looked 
to him like a demon, in the dress of a man. With 
a cry he dashed forward ; a fierce struggle en- 
sued, in which Schuyler was thrown down and for 
the moment stunned. Bending, Allston tenderly 
picked up Theo’s senseless form, and hurried back 
into the cottage. The lamp was extinguished, but 
he soon found a bit of candle and a match, with 
which he lighted it. He laid the young girl on 
the sofa and poured a few drops of brandy be- 
tween her closed teeth. 

“ She lives,” he said. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


67 


CHAPTER VI. 

“ If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master.” 

“Where am I, and what’s happened?” An- 
thony Burton rose wearily from the floor of the 
cave, like one whose senses were benumbed. He 
passed his black-gloved hand over his brow as if 
to clear the cobwebs from his brain. 

“ I’ve been dreamin’, very strange it all is. Ah! 
I see, I remember it all now. I came here with 
Schuyler. Where is the man ? He gave me that 
black lookin’ liquid and made me swallow it. I 
was too ill to resist. It must have been a sleepin’ 
draft. What hour can it be? I have forgotten 
my watch. Theo most likely has been anxious, 
and wondered why I did not go to bed. I must 
see if all is well with her.” 

He glanced around the chamber, his eyes falling 
on the open chests and empty bags. “ The 
villain ! The wretch ! He has robbed me of 
almost all,” he muttered. “ There is some gold in 
that smaller bag, but I’ll soon be a beggar, it can’t 
last long. A beggar, a beggar ! How I hate the 
word J No, I have my Theo, he did not take her.” 
Stumbling up the stone steps into the light of day, 


68 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


for the morning was just breaking, Captain 
Burton hurriedly passed into the little sitting- 
room. A candle was dimly burning, and the fire 
on the hearth was reduced to a heap of smoulder- 
ing ashes. He could not at first see his daugh- 
ter’s pale face as she \&y on the couch, or that of 
Mr. Allston, as he bent over her rubbing her cold 
hands. In a moment his eyes became accustomed 
to the light, and with a cry he pressed forward. 
Was the still form that of his Tlieo ? He felt he 
must be dreaming. 

He knelt beside her, and tenderly lifted a golden 
curl that had escaped from its prison. 

“My Theo, are yer ill? Yer ought not to be so 
frightened about yer old father. He’s well! 
Here he is.” He passed his hand over her cheeks 
and brow. 

Allston had stepped aside, as the father ap- 
proached. The captain seemed to be unconscious 
of his presence. 

Theo opened her eyes, a shudder ran through 
her frame. Seeing her father’s face she smiled 
faintly. 

“ I am better now, thank you. Where is Mr. 
Allston ? He saved my life.” 

“ I am here, Miss Theo, and am relieved to see 
you once more yourself! Captain Burton, I 
feared foul play, and dreaded for your life. We 
have had a fearful night of it.” 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


69 


Drawing the captain aside, in a few concise 
words lie told him the whole story, from beginning 
to end. 

“ The vile wretch, where is he now? 

“That, I do not know. Captain Burton, for 
when I found your daughter guarded by the 
fiend, I gave him such a blow, that for a time he 
must have been somewhat disabled.” 

“ Who is the man, and what was his object in 
carrying me off?” 

“My Theo, I’ve known him for years. His 
name is Jack Schuyler. J should have parted from 
him long ago, but for business reasons considered 
it best to remain friendly, lie saw yer one night 
when we were in the little sittin’-room. He 
looked through the window. I’d never allowed 
him to meet yer, for I knew the soul of the man 
was black. He wanted, Theo, to court and 
marry yer. My child, I wouldn’t even let him 
speak your name with his foul lips.” Theo 
shivered. 

“ He has robbed me of almost all my money, 
but not of my daughter. While I have her, I’ll 
not fear the hardships that must come to us both. 
You’ll be brave, my child,” and the captain again 
with his rough hand smoothed his daughter’s 
golden hair. 

“ Yes, father, God helps those who help them- 
selves, and He will not neglect us at this trying 


70 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


hour. He has saved my life, and frustrated the 
wicked plans of this man , He has saved me to 
live for Him and for you, dear father.” 

She placed both arms around his neck, and 
Allston, feeling the scene was one too solemn for 
the eyes of a stranger to witness, passed out of 
the room. 

There was silence, and then Theo said, lifting 
her head from the cushion on which it had been 
resting, 

“ Father, dear, Mr. Allston saved my life. You 
will thank him for all he has done ? I never can I ” 

44 Yes, Theo, I owe him more than I can ever 
repay. I ain’t much at talkin’. Ye'll speak to 
him yourself, Theo.” 

It was touching to see the two together. The 
stern captain, in the hour of adversity, had given 
place to a crushed but softened old man. 

44 1 feel so much better, dear father, that I think 
I will rise and open the shutters. It is morning, 
you know, but still very early.” 

She crossed the floor, blew out the candle, and 
unbarred the shutters. The gray mist streamed 
in. 

44 How haggard you look, father. Can you not 
go upstairs and take a little rest 9 ” 

41 No, Theo, not yet. I must go back to the 
woodhouse and clear up the place. I’ve left 
everythin’ in a mess.” 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


71 


Allston found no traces of the wretch. The 
boat and all had disappeared. 

Although the storm had passed off some time 
before, a silver mist hung over the sea and the 
gray rocks of Duck Island. The spray was dash- 
ing over Shag and Mingo, flinging far and wide its 
white foam. 

Allston stood watching the scene. “ A precious 
stone set in the silver sea,” he murmured. His 
face was flushed, and his heart beat wildly. He 
was not thinking of the island, but of the fair girl 
and of the sight he had just witnessed. It stirred 
something deep down in his heart of hearts. Was 
it only the picture ? No ; he loved Theo Burton; 
there was no denying it. Hers was such a beauti- 
ful nature, so simple and confiding. Why should 
he not ask her to share his life? His family, his 
cousins, they were all he had — would wish him to 
choose a bride from the best blood of the land. 
They were proud, they might be ashamed of Theo. 
How could they be ashamed of such a lovely crea- 
ture ? His soul revolted at the very thought. 
The girl was his equal; in all but family she was a 
lady. No one could think otherwise. She was 
refined and beautiful. Was there any other woman 
of his acquaintance who could compare with this 
sweet young creature ? 

“Yes, she shall some day bear my name, and 
the cousins find friends will learn to love her too," 


72 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


he said aloud. “ The captain says his money is 
all gone. That matters nothing. I will, in my 
profession, win a name for myself which Theo 
Burton will not be ashamed to share.” 

With these thoughts fresh in his mind, he 
sauntered into the woodhouse. Here he* found 
the captain busily at work at the floor replacing 
the boards. As his form darkened the doorway, 
the old man looked up. 

“Ha f it’s you, is it, Mr. Allston? Have you 
come to help me lay the floor? I was doin’ some 
repairin’ last night, and did not finish my work. 
It was here that Joe Schuyler found me. I felt 
a bit faint, he gave me somethin’, I thought it 
was whiskey but it must have been a sleepin’ 
potion. He poured it down my throat, and then 
the wretch robbed me ! ” 

The young man found that the captain shrank 
from speaking further on the painful subject. 

“Captain Burton,” he said at length with some 
hesitation, “ I have a favor to ask of you. I also 
come as a robber, but you need not fear me. 
In these last few weeks I have learnt to love 
your daughter. I — I want to marry her ! ” 

“You, Mr. Allston, she’s all the old man pos- 
sesses just now. I wouldn’t wish to be selfish 
but ” He stopped, the blue veins in his tem- 

ples swelled until they appeared like cords. He 
staggered to the wall, catching at a projecting 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


73 


beam. No, ’tis impossible, she must never bear 
your name ! It can not be ! ” 

“ You are ill, captain, come let me lead you 
into the sitting-room, where you can lie down. 
Remember you have been up all night and have 
had no rest.” 

The old man accepting his arm, half stumbled 
into the little parlor, falling heavily on the couch. 

Allston called the daughter, and together they 
did all in their power for the sufferer. 

Theo realized her father was very ill, and that 
outside aid was sorely needed. 

Turning to her companion, she said : 

“ Mr. Allston, can you not take our dory and 
row over to Star, fetching Mr. James back with 
you ? He knows so much about medicine ; all the 
people have him when they are ill. I have never 
before seen my father so unwell.” 

“ Yes, Miss Theo, — I will do anything. There 
is no time to be wasted ! ” 

Theo watched the little boat and its one occu- 
pant, until it looked like a speck upon the waves. 
She bent over her father, he was breathing heav- 
ily. How long it would be before the boat could 
return ! She kept her eyes fastened on the dear 
face. Sickness, since her mother died, had been 
almost unknown to them. The hours dragged 
wearily on, still she sat watching that face. She 
thought of Mr. Allston and of how he had saved 


74 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


her. Her pale cheeks flushed as she dreamt of 
the handsome black eyes. Theo had not yet found 
out what love was — she knew only that which she 
felt for her father. 

At last the dory returned with Mr. Allston and 
a stranger, she thought it did not look like Mr. 
James. Before many minutes both men stood by 
her side. 

“ This is Miss Burton ? ” the stranger remarked, 
not waiting for Allston’s introduction. “ Your 
father is ill, I see.” He unbuttoned his great 
coat, and laid it carefully on a chair, placing his 
hat on top. He wore a black curly wig and 
great blue goggles, which covered his eyes. 

“I’m not Mr. James. My name's Blacksheath. 
I met your friend on the wharf and seein’ that he 
looked troubled, decided to return with him and 
give you what little assistance I could. Mr. 
James is not at Gosport just now, he is visiting- 
some of his people on the mainland. I am a 
regular practitioner and have been restin’ at 
Star for a short while.” 

Taking his little black bag he passed over to 
the couch, and carefully noted the captain’s 
respiration and pulse. Opening his bag he took 
out a case of small vials one of which he chose, 
called for a glass of water two-thirds full, and 
carefully dissolved some of the sugar coated pel- 
lets. Taking the teaspoon which Theo handed 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


75 


him, he dipped it into the glass and placed it 
carefully between the sick man's lips. 

“ There, Miss Burton, you will find that a 
great benefit ; it will work wonders. In a few 
hours’ time your father will be much better. It 
is somethin’ of a disturbance which we can soon 
overcome, I hope. What the patient needs is 
rest and good nursing.” He fixed his goggles on 
Theo’s face. “ You’re a dainty nurse, and one 
whose lovely eyes would charm away any dis- 
ease.” 

The young girl shrank from the doctor's fixed 
gaze. What was there in the man that made her 
turn away in disgust. Her ears were unaccus- 
tomed to flattery, and the empty words angered 
her. 

“ I will do all in my power for my dear father. 
He is everything to me,” she answered coldly. 

Beckoning Allston to her, she said, 

“Let us carry father upstairs. He will rest 
more quietly on his own bed.” So Dr. Black- 
sheath and Allston, assisted by Tlieo, half lifted 
the old man up the stairs and laid him down on 
his bed. He was still partially unconscious. 

Theo turned to the doctor. 

“ I hope you will wait until my father’s condi- 
tion changes.” 

“Yes, Miss Burton, never fear. I will remain 
here with him a little longer, but by evening he 


?<5 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


will be quite himself. Perhaps Mr. Allston will 
kindly row me back to Star. I will return at an 
early hour to-morrow. Your father will pull 
through this attack. It has been brought on by 
some severe shock. The liquid must be given 
him every hour, a teaspoon of it. By the way 
it is about time for another.” 

Suiting the action to the words, Doctor Black- 
sheath clipped the spoon into the glass and put it 
to his patient's lips. 

“ I should recommend rest, keeping your father 
free from any excitement.” 

Theo smiled. “ We have in our island home but 
little that can prove exciting. This trouble was 
caused by a somewhat unusual occurrence. Our 
lives are both quiet and peaceful.” 

The doctor fixed his blue goggles again on the 
young girl's face. There was something strange 
about his manner. Allston looked at him in a 
critical way, then added, 

“ Do you think, doctor, that your patient will 
doze all night ? ” 

“ Yes, Mr. Allston. To-morrow, as I have said, 
I will return and see him. You need not row 
over for me. I can easily find a boat and will not 
put you to that trouble.” 

He then gave Theo some directions as to the 
patient’s comfort during the night, and passed out 
of the room. Allston helped him on with his 


A SECRET OF TEE SEA . 


77 

great coat, and together they made their way to 
the landing. 

Theo heard the regular stroke of the oars until 
it died away, and all was silent. She returned to 
her father, he was sleeping as before, only his color 
was somewhat more natural. She then ran down- 
stairs to see about supper and to arrange things 
for the night. The door into the woodhouse stood 
open as was customary. Theo hurried in, as 
the fire in the stove was low, to get what fuel she 
required. She held a candle high up in her hand, 
that she might see the step. The flickering light 
fell upon something bright which lay on the floor. 
She stooped and picked up a gold coin. It was 
evidently of foreign stamp and resembled the 
one her father had by mistake given her. 

“I will show it to father when he gets better. 
But — why! here is another and another!” again 
she stopped, picking up the shining bits and placed 
them in her pocket. 

“Where could father have found them? What 
does it all mean?” She set the candlestick on a 
broken chair, which her father had taken in to re- 
pair, and passing to the stack of wood picked out 
the sticks she needed. 

She was busily engaged when her attention was 
attracted by a queer sound, it was like a moan. 

“What is it? It comes from the enclosure, 
father’s den, I think.” 


78 A SECRET OE THE SEA. 

The partition divided a part of the woodhouse, 
and in this the captain kept his tools. It was 
locked and he always held the key, never having 
allowed his daughter to enter, as he said it was full 
of dust and cobwebs and not fit for her to go in. 

When Theo would ask if she could not clean 
it, he replied, “ No, child, a man must have some 
spot he can call his own.” 

Seeing it only irritated him, the young girl let 
the matter drop. 

Once again the sound caught her ear, this time 
it was louder. She put her eye to the keyhole, 
but could see nothing. 

“ Can it be the wind,” she said to herself, “ or 
some poor imprisoned owl that made his way in 
there when father was at work? I have heard the 
same noise at night. Yes, it must be an owl.” 

The sound had ceased. “ Poor creature, I wish 
I could let you out ! I will, when I find the key.” 

Taking up her candle and the sticks of wood, 
she returned to the kitchen. A fine blaze re- 
warded her efforts. Soon the porridge was boil- 
ing and the teakettle singing its cheerful song. 
Theo spread the table with a snowy cloth, placed 
on it two plates, two knives and forks and two 
glasses with other necessary things, not forgetting 
the teacups and saucers and a pretty vase of 
golden-rod, which she had picked several days be- 
fore but which was yet quite fresh. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


79 


How strange it seemed to place no chair for her 
father. He would, she felt, soon be with them 
again. 

Just then Mr. Allston entered. “ I have only 
now returned, Miss Theo. Dr. Blacksheath will 
come again to-morrow. You have, I understand, 
all the directions for the night? ” 

“ Yes,” she answered absently. “ Thank you 
so much for your trouble. But supper is ready, 
Mr. Allston. Sit right down and eat something. 
You must be exhausted.” 

44 1 will take you at your word, Miss Theo, for 
I’m as hungry as a bear ! This salt air is certainly 
a fine thing for an appetizer.” 

“ I will pour you out a cup of tea and then 
run up to father and see if he needs me. The 
doctor said he would sleep for some time longer 
but it is the hour for his medicine and he will 
later need some nourishment.” 

Theo poured out a cup of fragrant tea, and plac- 
ing a plate of nicely browned toast and a pat of 
butter by the young man’s side, she went upstairs 
to her father’s room. 

In a few moments she returned, saying cheer- 
fully, “Father is breathing quietly, like a babe, 
and I can see he is better, although he did not 
rouse or speak to me. You are ready for the 
porridge, Mr. Allston, are you not?’' 

“ No, I am ready for you, Miss Theo. Now sit 


* 


80 . A SECRET OE THE SEA. 

down and try to eat something yourself. You 
must be quite exhausted. Let me be butler. You 
have waited so often on me, let me return the 
compliment.” 

“ Yes, but you are our guest, and I am only 
Captain Burton’s daughter.” 

Allston had risen and removed the steaming 
mess of porridge from the stove, pouring it into a 
china dish, which Theo had placed within a safe 
distance of the fire. 

“ You make a good cook as well as a butler; I 
am quite sure you must have had some previous 
experience.” 

“ Yes, we college men are accustomed to get- 
ting up suppers, and doing all kinds of things. 
When a fellow lives away from home for any 
length of time, he learns to be his own seamstress, 
cook and in fact jack of all trades. Miss Theo, 
I wish you knew my cousins, they are all the con- 
nections I have, you know.” 

“ Will they not some day come to the island 
and be. our guests? We have not much money 
now. My father said he had been robbed of al- 
most all. We are poor but God will take care of 
us ; I do not fear for the future. Are many 
people in the world poor, Mr. Allston? ” 

“ Yes, many, very many, the cry of suffering 
and poverty rises up from ” 

He stopped. “ What is that noise ? ” A low 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


81 


moan was plainty heard. “ It comes from the di- 
rection of the woodhouse.” 

“ Do not be frightened. I was taken in to- 
night, myself, not long ago. It is only a poor owl, 
who quite innocently by my father, has been 
made prisoner.” 

“Oh! What was I saying? Well — Miss 
Burton, I have something on my mind, which I 
must tell you.” 

“What is it, Mr. Allston? Is it a secret ? ” 

“ Yes, a secret just between you and me.” 

“ I never had a secret entrusted to me. Is it 
a real one ? ” 

“ Yes, a real one.” 

There was an earnest look in the young man’s 
eyes as Theo glanced toward him. His voice 
shook so that he could hardly control it. 

“ Theo, I love you. Love you better than I 
have ever loved any woman. You are like my 
dead sister in some things but will you not be 
my beloved wife ? ” 

Theo looked puzzled. “Love me ! Yes it’s so 
kind of you to love me. It’s nice to be liked 
by such a good man as you are. I always wanted 
a brother and you are just what I’ve always 
thought a brother would be like.” 

“A brother? Oh! can you not understand? 
I do not love you as a brother but as a lover.” 

“ Love me, Mr. Allston?” 


6 


82 A SECRET OF THE SEA. 

“ Yes, love you, just as your father loved your 
mother when years ago lie asked her to share his joys 
and sorrows. Miss Burt — Tlieo, do not say no! ” 

He was standing in front of her, waiting 
pleadingly for her answer, and catching her little 
hand in his, he pressed it to his lips. Theo did 
not attempt to draw it away. 

“Mr. Allston,youcan teach me to love you. Hike 
you now very, very much. Indeed I do — and ” 

But her lover had caught her in his arms. 

“ Theo, nothing can ever part us now ! I will 
teach you, my dear one, what the dictionary 
definition gave, what it all meant and as the 
years roll on, we will be glad of the compact 
we have made to-night.” 

Theo freed herself from his gentle embrace. 
Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes shone like 
stars, as she answered : 

“You must be patient with me, Mr. Allston, 
and tell father all about it. I belong to him, you 
know. Really I must run away now and see 
about my invalid. Good night ! ” 

“ You will allow me to close the shutters, will 
you not ? ” 

“Yes, if you want to very, very much.” 

“Thanks, for letting me do something. But 
please, I must be repaid for my trouble.” He 
beut over and impressed a kiss on Theo’s white 
brow. Thank you. Good night, my beloved! ” 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


83 


CHAPTER VII. 

** Mysteries are due to secrecy.” 

“ Mystery magnifies danger, as a fog the sun.” 

The next day found Captain Burton much 
better. Doctor Blacksheath, coming to see him 
in the afternoon, gave a most favorable report. 
Before he left the sick room he changed the medi- 
cine and held a long conversation with Theo as to 
the care of the invalid. 

After the physician had gone, the young girl 
turned to her lover, saying : 

“ Is it not strange, Dr. Blacksheath at times 
talks like an educated man but very often he 
lapses into the most ungrammatical English. I 
can not understand him, he has become a perfect 
enigma to me.” 

“ Yes, I have noticed the same thing, Theo. I 
cannot make the man out ; he impresses me as 
being a most peculiar character. I feel suspicious 
all the time and yet I know not why. Are you 
conscious of the way he glances at you ? ” 

44 Yes. My whole nature seems to shrink from 
the very touch of his hand, or the sound of his 


84 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


voice. How strange it is that some natures at- 
tract, while others only fill one with repulsion.” 

“ Yes, Theo, God has given to every human 
soul a wonderful power of discernment. I like 
not this man and shall keep my eye on him, even 
though he probably is a most unobjectionable per- 
son. Dear one, will you not come out with me on 
the rocks? The morning is mild for November ; 
surely we can not have many more such days.” 

The young girl picked up her shawl, which was 
lying near by on a chair, and followed her lover to 
their favorite nook among the rocks. Away off 
they could plainly see the doctor’s little boat as it 
steered for Star. A soft sea breeze was blowing 
and the sunshine streamed over all, making the 
mica in the rocks around them glitter like dia- 
monds. At last Theo spoke. 

“ Will you be with us, Mr. Allston, through the 
winter ? v 

“ Mr. Allston ! Guy , you mean ! Is it so hard 
for you to learn to speak my name ? No, dear, 
early in December I will have to return home. 
I’ve had a long vacation and my health is much 
improved. Business waits for no man, you know. 
But speaking of my name, reminds me of some- 
thing that was once said to me. I was talking to 
a young girl, whom I had but shortly before met. 
In the course of conversation she said she 
could always detect what a person’s name was by 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


85 


studying their expression, features, etc. She said 
a Joe always looked like a Joe, a Martha like a 
Martha, a Susan like a Susan. I then asked her 
to tell me what mine was. Fixing her dark eyes 
on me, she replied, ‘Yours, Mr. Allston ? Why, 
you look to me like a Guy ! ’ ” 

Theo laughed. 

“ You see I did not know how to take it, con- 
sidering it rather a doubtful compliment. Per- 
haps you feel the same and do not like to call me 
by it/’ 

“ No, Mr. — Guy, I mean, that is rather unkind; 
how could I have such a thought in my head? 
Must, you really go awa}^ in December? Father 
and I,” she blushed, “ will miss you very, very 
much. Our little island is a dreary spot in winter. 
The color seems to fade out of the world — our 
world — and the dull gray skies bend over the great 
waste of leaden waters. The islands are bound 
with a girdle of ice, which appears as the tides rise 
and fall. Here and there dark seaweed clings to 
the rocks, making the contrasts in white and 
black very striking. Nothing ever disturbs the 
solitude but the cry of the birds and the moan of 
the harsh sea, as it breaks against the rocks.” 

“ You are an artist, Theo. I feel that I can 
almost see the picture.” 

“ When the snow comes we are shut off from 
the outside world. At night the wind rises and 


86 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


the snow flakes whirl and whirl, clinging to the 
rocks for protection. But the stars, Guy, are so 
beautiful and clear ; they talk to one. Somehow, 
mother seems to be nearer me in winter than in 
summer. Do you remember what Longfellow 
says about the stars being ‘ the forget-me-nots of 
the angels ’? The northern lights flare and stream 
through the darkness, making the heavens appear 
first crimson then orange and blue, while a throb- 
bing, pulsating, rosy or yellow flush is seen at the 
zenith. Orion is grandly sublime.” 

“ You have, in fact dear, a wonderful stage all 
to yourself. Theo, you see beauty in everything 
in nature.” He lovingly took her hand in his. 
“ I have never before met any woman with real 
soul life such as you have, except my mother and 
sister, and both have left me,” he added bitterly. 
“ The young girl I once loved, was fond only of 
flattery and attention ; the ballroom and theatre 
were more to her than nature ever could be. She 
was as unlike you, Theo, as the sea bird is to the 
lark. The sea bird keeps near the world, all the 
time dipping her wings into the sparkling waves, 
she never soars very high; but the lark, singing, 
wings its way ever higher and higher, until at 
times it is lost to sight in the blue heavens.” 

“ If I am a painter, you are a poet, Guy. Your 
ideas are so beautiful.” 

“ I am a poor poet, Theo. You will find as 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


87 


you know me better, that I am very practical and 
earthly, a very uninteresting personage. You, 
dear, are a host in yourself.” 

“But, Guy, I do worry about things and I 
know that is wrong. We should 4 cast all our care 
upon the One who careth for us.’ ” 

“ I should not imagine you ever worried, Theo. 
Do you know, I used to fret about things, and I will 
tell you how I broke myself of it. I knew troubles 
were sure to come to me as long as I continued 
to live in this wicked world, so I made up my 
mind to be a philosopher. The disturbing thoughts 
were apt to keep up a regular Dervish dance, as 
round and round they whirled, until I felt quite 
faint and dizzy. This they would do, until a new 
trouble came and drove out the first ; then an- 
other and another followed. Strange as it might 
appear, one began to look forward curiously to any 
new vexation that came to darken the horizon, and 
thus each as it approached was easier to be borne. 
If an uncongenial person crossed my path, I tried 
the museum method of classification and pinned 
him to some particular card, where he was num- 
bered and classified. When you find out where 
people belong, you can more easily get along with 
their various idiosyncracies. We all of us are a 
bit queer. If vve were not we would not be in- 
teresting.” 

“Yours is a good method, Guy. I have so 


88 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


often thought how alone we mortals are, no matter 
how near and dear friends are. We live in our- 
selves, no one but God can see the struggles; the 
world sees onty the defeats and victories. Father 
and I have always been together and yet dear 
father so often misunderstands my motives, when 
I am trying my very best to please him. I fall so 
far short of what I should be, that he does not 
realize how hard I have tried. God knows, how- 
ever, and the thought comforts me.” 

We all of us feel the same, Theo. Your expe- 
rience is only that which is common to all mortals. 
You have studied yourself, have become an inter- 
esting subject to yourself and thus you are in- 
teresting to me. Some future day when the 
world knows my dear one, the friends you make 
will feel the same.” 

“No, Guy, no one will ever care for me as you 
do. You love me too much. In time I will be 
quite spoilt. But really, I must run away now. 
The time flies so quickly when I am with you. I 
must go upstairs and see how father is.” 

“ Stop, Theo, I have forgotten something. Just 
as Doctor Blacksheath stepped into the boat, old 
Peter, who you know came over for him, slipped 
this note into my hand, it is for you.” 

He placed in her hand a soiled, crumpled bit of 
paper, on which was written in a scrawled hand: 
“ For Miss Theo Burton .” The young girl was 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


89 


standing by the door as she unfolded the sheet 
and read aloud the following lines to her lover. 


“ Dear Miss Theo : 

44 Bennaye tole me I’de better 
right yer a letter, and send it along with Peter, 
the loons been a cryin’ the last too nights, the hens 
is a layin’ and Bennaye and i is better than when 
you was here. Wall Bennaye and i was settin’ in 
our room, when ole Babbs ghost walked right in. 
He had on the butcher’s frock, leathern belt, and 
the stripes on the dress of the man shone like 
pewter after yer rub it. Says he with a murder- 
ous looke in his eye, says he, 4 the gal on Duck 
Island is in — ’ Bennaye called out, 4 who is yer,’ 
he got up and got. Bennaye took a chill ; it run 
rite down his backbone; had to give him sasparilla 
and a plaster on his stomach. The creeps over- 
took me; my wool ain’t lyin’ down yet. I tried 
sugar and water on it. Bennaye and I got into 
bed, such a scratchin’ and a tearryin’ we heard 
under the window. Bennaye says to me, 4 Nab- 
baye, someone on Duck’s goin’ to die.’ We both 
got a chill, ain’t warm yet, thought I’de better 
warn yer. We’ll have a 4 tan toaster ’ by night. 

44 Nabbaye.” 

Guy Allston burst out laughing. 44 Well, that’s 
the greatest epistle I ever listened to. You ought 
to keep it, Theo, as a specimen. I have rarely 
ever met such curious, interesting old fossils as 
Bennaye and Nabbaye. They certainly must have 


90 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


wonderful imaginations. Poor old souls, they 
evidently believe some great danger is threatening 
you. Ghosts seem to be common things here, 
Theo. Have you ever been able to discover what 
it was we saw on that awful night? I could 
swear I was as wide awake as I am now.” 

“No, Guy, I have not. Once before, in a very 
real dream, this figure stood by my bed. She 
carried a light in her hand and used the same 
words as those you heard. He will come ! He 
will come again ! ’ In the first part of my dream 
I seemed to be in a boat, tossing on the waves, 
when a figure rose out of the water and stretch- 
ing out her hands implored me to save her. Just 
then in the greatest horror I awoke. By my side 
stood a woman, the image of the one whom the 
other night we both saw. Her expression was one 
of the most melancholy I have ever seen ; a fiend- 
ish smile lighted her face. I screamed as she 
bent over me. The creature disappeared — melted 
away. It was all very real.” 

“I do not believe as a general rule in spirits, 
Theo, but I should say, that the islands were 
haunted by the ghosts of pirates, who, after their 
many crimes, were not able to rest in their graves. 
Your dream has interested me.” 

She was still standing by the door, the letter in 
her hand. 

“ I do feel somewhat uncanny about this letter, 


A SECRET OE THE SEA. 


91 


Guy. You will take care of me, I know, if any 
trouble does come.” 

“ Do you think I would forget you, dearest ? ” 

Again she started to go up the stairs but Guy 
Allston detained her. 

“ Theo,” he said, “ if your father is strong 
enough, tell him all about our engagement and 
ask him to forgive me for being so hasty. I spoke 
to him about it but 1 fear it was a shock.” 

The young girl hurried up to her father’s room. 
The November sun was setting, its rays fell upon 
the old man’s face and on his gray hair. He turned 
his head as his daughter entered. 

“ I feel so much better, Theo. When I awoke 
from sleep, I began to be like my old self. Do 
yer know, child, I wonder if the villain Schuyler 
could not have given me a strong sleeping draught. 
The doctor yer had — where did yer find him?” 

“ At Star, father. Mr. James, whom we wanted 
to get had gone away, and Guy, Mr. Allston I 
mean, found this man and brought him back in 
the boat.” 

“ ’Twas strange, Theo, what a heavy feeling 
come over me, I couldn’t rouse myself sufficiently 
to speak to the doctor, yet when he came to me, 
I was conscious there was somethin’ in him that I 
shrank from. I felt chilled to the marrow, even 
when he felt my pulse.” 

“ How remarkable, father. Mr. Allston and I 


92 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


have the same aversion to Doctor Blacksheath. 
He talks as if he understood his business. At any 
rate, you are better, his medicines have done you 
good. As you are stronger, I want to tell you a 
little bit of news.” 

“ News for me, Theo ? Have yer heard from 
the villain who stole my gold ? ” 

“ No, father,” she shuddered. “ Do not let us 
speak of him. It is only that — that Mr. Allston 
has asked your daughter to be his wife. I could 
not understand it all at first, but I do now. He 
is so good to me father; some day I will bear his 
name.” 

“ His name ! ” Theo was frightened at her 
father’s horror-stricken expression. “ God forbid 
that my child should ever bear that name ! ” 

“ Why, father, you are trembling. You are 
weak after your illness ! ” She placed one arm 
around his bent form. 

“No! It ain't that — not that! It can't ever 
be, my child. I’ve not often crossed yer.” 

“ He loves me, and you know nothing against 
him ! ” 

“ Not against him, but — -the name. Theo, don’t 
ask me. I can’t tell yer.” 

Captain Burton turned his face away, while in 
his heart he murmured, “ The sins of the fathers 
are visited upon the children, even to the third 
and fourth generation.” 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


93 


“ When you are stronger, father, you will be 
better able to think it over.” 

The old man groaned. “ Oh, my Tlieo ! My 
Theo ! ” he cried. 

Tlie daughter saw an agonized look in his eyes. 

“ Leave me, Theo. I’ll talk it over with Mr. 
Allston to-morrow. Please tell him so.” 

“ I have forgotten something, father, the key of 
the partition in the woodhouse. I think a poor 
owl has flown in and is now a prisoner there. 
Every night and morning since your illness, not 
being able to go in, I have placed food under the 
door, having cut a little piece of the wood out. I 
knew you’d want me to look after the creature 
and your other pets. You are so kind-hearted. I 
tried to see what the owl looked like, but the 
place was dark and I could distinguish nothing.” 

A close observer would have seen the captain 
start. 

“ Did the poor thing moan ? ” 

“Yes, frightfully, but only at times. It sounded 
unlike any bird that I have ever heard, such a 
human moan. I can remember for some years past, 
to have heard the same sound, generally at night.” 

“ Well, Theo, I’ve a great fancy for animals 
and I’ve from time to time kept a pet in the en- 
closure, or (my den, as yer call it.) Thank yer 
for bein’ so thoughtful as to feed the creatures. 
Yer see the sounds are explained. I never allowed 


94 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


yer to go inside the place, for I thought yer might 
be frightened, not knowin’ they was there. I 
have always cleaned up the room myself and fed 
the creatures.” 

At that moment a shadow darkened the door- 
way. Theo looked up. To her surprise, her eyes 
encountered the blue goggles of Doctor Black- 
sheath. 

“ Ah ! I frightened you, Miss Burton. I will 
explain my presence. I no sooner reached home 
when I found I had left the wrong medicine for 
your father. Has he taken more than one dose?” 

“ No, doctor, we have given him but one tea- 
spoon of the liquid ; it is only just the hour for the 
second. You are here in time to save me from 
killing him.” 

The doctor gave a sigh of satisfaction as he con- 
tinued, “ I am relieved.” Turning to this patient 
he said, reassuringly, “ Yer look better, captain, 
than when I last saw yer.” 

“ Aye ! aye ! I feel better, thank yer. I have 
been ill in my life but seldom, and this shock was 
brought on most likely by the black mixture the 
villain gave me. It took time to do its work. 
My daughter has told yer about our trouble.” 

“ Yes, I’ve heard the strange story.” The blue 
goggled eyes rested on Theo’s face. 

She turned away, feeling as if fascinated, yet 
she shrank from him. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 95 

Doctor Blacksheaih began to prepare the medi- 
cine as before. He took a tiny homeopathic vial 
from the small leathern case, and turning to Theo 
said, 

“ This is just the thing. I don’t know how I 
could have made such a grave mistake. The vial 
I used this morning I had carelessly forgotten to 
mark. Captain Burton, in one-half hour I should 
like yer to take a teaspoon of this, and continue 
the dose every hour. I have a great favor to ask 
of you, Miss Burton. The wind has risen, and old 
Peter, who rowed me over this morning, refused 
to return, as he said a regular ‘ tan toaster ’ * was 
cornin’ up. I hired a boat and rowed myself over. 
The sea was and is still, pretty rough. I fear to 
return. Can you put me up for the night?” 

Theo, somewhat taken aback by the request, 
turned to her father, saying, 

“ Father, you will be glad to offer the hospitality 
of our roof to Doctor Blacksheath ? ” 

“ Yer welcome, doctor, welcome. The heart 
of Burton never yet refused the cover of his roof 
to a friend. Make yerself at home. I owe my 
recovery to yer. Do yer really think it necessary 
for me to take more medicine ? I feel almost 
well, and with yer permission, will sit up awhile 
in that large chair yonder by the window. I want 
to watch the storm cornin’ up.” 


* Tan toaster— A gale. 


96 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


“ I think it best for yer to remain in bed, but if 
yer feel restless, perhaps yer might sit up for a 
short time. Only for a time, Miss Burton. 
You must watch and see your father does not 
overdo it. With such a lovely nurse as your 
daughter, captain, yer should soon recover. She 
is grace, beauty and all, combined.” 

The fulsome remark disgusted Theo, and she 
hastity left the room. 

“ Neither my daughter or I are accustomed to 
flattery, Doctor Blacksheath.” 

“ Ah ! I regret I have wounded the fair one. I 
will, captain, wander out on the rocks for an hour 
or more.” 

He left the room. 

No sooner had the doctor departed, than Guy 
Allston appeared, saying in his cheerful way, 

“ You are looking like your old self, captain. 
To-morrow you will be around with us as of old. 
Dr. Blacksheath tells me he is afraid to return on 
account of the storm, and that you have invited 
him to spend the night.” 

“ Yes, ’twould be a shame to have the man go 
out in the very teeth of this wind; these Novem- 
ber blows are treacherous.” 

Allston stepped to the table on which stood the 
glass of medicine, all ready for use. 

“ This is your medicine, captain. Theo tells 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


97 


me Dr. Blacksheath made a mistake in what he 
gave you, and for this reason he has returned. 
Let me take the glass into the other room for a 
moment. Your daughter wishes it.” 

The father nodded his assent. 

In a few moments Allston returned, a strange 
look of contempt and anger on his face. 

“Captain Burton,” he exclaimed huskily, “it 
is unnecessary for you to take the liquid ” — he 
stopped as if to gain breath — “ I have tested it, 
and find it is rank poison.” 

The captain trembled. “ What mean yer, 
man? Rank poison? — poison! But the doc- 
tor ? ” 

“ He is either a madman or a would-be mur- 
derer ! From the very first I doubted him, as did 
your child. I have kept my eye on him. The 
other medicine was harmless. He has returned 
to murder you.” 

The captain was speechless. A something passed 
over his face. The thought seemed to give him 
strength. He rose from his bed. 

“ We must be watchful and on' our guard. Mr. 
Allston, there is somethin’ rotten in all this that 
we must fathom. I have in my mind a clue, but 
as the old sayin’ has it, ‘We must save our breath 
to cool our porridge.’ ” 

He took Allston’s hand. “ Theo has told me 
everythin’. Must I give her to yer ? Perhaps, 

7 . _ 


98 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


did yer know all, yer wouldn’t want her. Guard 
her well, she's in danger. T feel it, somethin’ tells 
me that we have not heard the last of our late 
trouble.” 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


99 


CHAPTER VIII. 

i “ I will render to the man according to his work.” 

Twilight had faded into night. A solemn 
stillness brooded over all. 

Guy Allston stood by Theo’s side. The lovers 
were in the little sitting-room, and the young girl 
was just about lighting the oil lamp; she held 
the match in her hand. 

“ Do not light the lamp yet, darling. Let us 
have a quiet time here all by ourselves. Doctor 
Blacksheath is still outside, is he not?” His lip 
curled disdainfully, and the black eyes glowed 
fiercely. “ Since we have found out the man’s real 
character, that he is a would-be murderer, it will be 
desirable to keep our eyes open. Theo, your father 
has given you into my hands, and I will not fail 
him now. I would die for you, if need be. No 
one shall harm a hair of your head.” 

44 The good God meant that we should love 
each other always and Guy whispered, 

“Yes, darling, always, always.” 

The lovers were standing with their backs to 
the door, and did not see the , stealthy figure 
crouching there. Schuyler heard the last words, 


100 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


and liissingly echoed them. “ Always ! always ! 
We’ll see about that ! ” 

“ Let me light the lamp, Theo. There, give 
me the match. How cheerful the little sitting- 
room looks to-night ! ” 

“ Yes, I had the same thought, and so have 
come in to join you.” It was Doctor Blacksheath 
who spoke. “ You two seem mighty fond of each 
other. Engaged? I thought so. Yer needn’t 
try to tell such an old codger as I am. I can read 
all the signs.” 

Both Theo and her lover looked much annoyed 
at his words. 

“ I won’t disturb you by cornin’ in will I ? ” 

“ No, doctor, not in the least,” Allston answered 
in a most polite way. “ You will find this chair 
by the table very comfortable, and here are some 
books which perhaps you may desire to look into.” 
With these words he left the room ; Theo fol- 
lowed. 

When the lovers reached the hallway, Allston 
turned to his beloved. 

“ Dear one, do not be alone with that man one 
moment, or allow him to see your father, unless I 
am present. We must to-night be on our guard. 
You will promise me this, Theo? ” 

“ I promise all, everything, Guy.” 

Supper was soon prepared and partaken of by 
the three. With the doctor’s permission, Theo 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


101 


carried up to her invalid a fragrant cup of tea and 
a slice of toast, neatly placed on a tray. 

“ That is all my patient must eat to-night,” 
Doctor Blacksheath pompously said. “ We must 
always take great care of the digestive organs, for 
neglect of them brings on many ailments. Has 
your father taken the medicine that I prepared, 
Miss Burton ? ” 

“No, doctor, I am sorry to say, that while you 
were out of doors, an accident befell it. The glass 
containing the liquid was emptied by Mr. Allston, 
he was looking for something to ” 

“ Yes, I wanted to get the captain a glass of 
cold water, the fault is mine. Will you not pre- 
pare some more for him ?” 

The muscles of the young man’s face never even 
twitched, as the blue goggles gazed fixedly at 
him. 

“ Yes, I’ll do so. I am, however, sorry for the 
delay, and hope no harm will be done.” 

Theo left the room carrying the tray. She 
dared not look at Allston, but her heart said : 
“ You will prepare another, false man, but it shall 
share the fate of the last.” 

Captain Burton took his tea and toast from 
Theo’s hands. He was sitting in the chair by the 
window. 

“ Thank yer, my daughter, thank yer. Mr. 
Allston has told yer what we suspect. Be on yer 


102 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


guard, my child; I shall go to bed with my clothes 
on, so as to be ready for any emergency. Give 
them to me now, Theo.” 

She did as she was bidden, and left the cham- 
ber. In about ten minutes she returned to find 
her father quite dressed. In his hand was a 
pistol. 

“ I have in an inner pocket, Theo, placed all 
the little store of gold the wretch left, — all that 
remains to us. I don’t know this Blacksheath, 
but believe him to be an accomplice of Schuyler's, 
the man who would even have robbed me of my 
child.” 

“Is this true, father? Are you quite sure you 
are right ? ” 

“Yes, Theo; that is why I have warned yer. 
Mr. Allston I think knows why I suspect Black- 
sheath. But we must try to appear natural, and 
act our parts as best we can.” 

“Is 'there no way of putting the supposed doc- 
tor under arrest ? ” 

“ No, we must wait until we have stronger 
proofs, until we can ” 

“ Father, I hear them pushing away their 
chairs from the table. Quick, in a few moments 
Doctor Blacksheath will be here. Slip on this 
gown and get between the sheets. You must 
appear to have gone to bed for the night.” 

Captain Burton did as was suggested. Theo saw 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


103 


him tremble, and realized that her father was an old 
man, and that if worse came worse, he was in a poor 
position to defend either himself or her. She placed 
the pistol under his pillow. Hardly were these ar- 
rangements completed, than Doctor Blacksheath 
and Guy Allston entered the room. Tlieo stepped 
near the door, and closely watched the doctor as 
he dissolved a fine white powder in the glass, 
three-quarters full of water. 

“1 hope nothin’ will happen to this,” he said 
lightly. “ I am sorry captain, you did not let me 
know earlier about your medicine bein’ thrown 
out.” 

There was something in the voice, something 
unmistakable in the manner of the man. 

Captain Burton felt he had met him before. 
Could it be possible that this Doctor Blacksheath 
was his old comrade, Schuyler. If it were, he 
was a good actor, a wonderful actor. 

“ Yes, ’twould be a pity,” he coldly answered. 

He must keep up the farce for a while longer, 
that he realized. 

“ Shall I turn your pillow, captain?” the doctor 
said. 

“ No, thank yer. I’d rather have it as it is; ” he 
passed his hand underneath the pillow and grasped 
his pistol firmly, until the cords and sinews felt as 
if they would snap. 

•“ Well, if there’s nothing to be done, Mr, Alls- 


104 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


ton, we two can go downstairs and have a smoke.” 

“ The suggestion is a good one, let us go,” an- 
swered Allston, coldly. 

A conflict was raging within him. He longed 
to knock down the hypocrite, and yet for the 
present he must continue to be polite to him. The 
blood surged to his head, and his heart beat 
loudly. 

Down the stairs the two men went, passing into 
the little sitting-room. 

Theo had left her father’s chamber some min- 
utes before, and had sought the quiet of this place. 
She rose as they entered, and passed out of the 
door. The supper things had been washed and 
carefully put away. She returned to her father’s 
chamber. As soon as she entered, the invalid 
bent forward excitedly. 

“ Is all quiet below, Theo? Take this vile stuff 
and pour it out of the window, then wash the 
glass well, and fill it with water, about two-thirds 
full, just as it is now. Do yer understand? ” 

The daughter did as she was bidden. 

“Father, if you should want anything during 
the night, will you ring this little bell. I have 
brought it up from the kitchen, and will place it 
by your side on this table.” 

“ I hope we won’t need to raise any alarm, 
Theo. I thank yer for your foresight. I must 
say I do feel a bit uneasy ! I’m sure there ’ll be 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


105 


trouble here to-night. All we can do is, to be 
ready for it when it comes.” 

The young girl rose to leave the room. 

“ Don’t go downstairs yet awhile. Sit by me 
just as yer used to when yer were little.” 

“ I believe you love me more than you did then, 
father. You used to be so reserved and silent, 
that I feared you very much, yet loved you too.” 

She knelt by his bed, and laid her hand on her 
father’s gray locks, the other she slipped into one 
of his. 

“ Theo, I have a little ring, which I wish yer 
would wear.” The captain took from his vest 
pocket a curious old-fashioned gold band, the an- 
tique setting held one diamond and two opals, one 
on either side of the brilliant. 

“ What a beautiful thing it is, and where did 
you get it?” 

“It belonged to a person — a lady — who died.” 

“ Why do you tremble, father?” She noticed 
that the hand which held the ring shook. 

“ I’m not strong, that’s all. The memory of the 
beautiful creature never leaves me.” 

“ Did you meet her before you knew mother ? ” 

“ Yes, when I was young, quite a boy in fact. 
There, slip it on yer finger.” 

Theo examined the trinket carefully. On the 
inner side there were two initials intertwined — B. 
and A. 


106 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


“ Yer see, my child, the initials are the same as 
those of Mr. Allston and yourself. Ask yer lover 
to use it for the engagement ring. Yer lover! 
how strange the words sound.” 

“Thank you, father. Guy will thank you too, 
for thinking of our happiness at this time. But 
it is growing late. All seems quiet below. Do 
3 r ou know the hypocrite, Doctor Blacksheath, in- 
sists upon sleeping on the sofa in the sitting-room. 
1 wish we could lock him in there for the night. 
Do not excite yourself about anything. Guy is 
strong enough to fight our battles. I do not fear, 
come what may.” 

“ Take care, Theo ; be cautious, my daughter. 
The wolf often wanders around in sheep’s cloth- 
ing” 

“ I must go downstairs for a few moments, 
father. The silver forks and spoons are there, and 
to-night I will bring them up into my room and 
hide them.” 

“Yes, yer right, bring them up.” 

Theo passed down the stairs, the door into the 
woodhouse was open. Her lover and the stranger 
were, she supposed, in the sitting-room. The door 
was almost closed, and she had neglected to look 
in. 

“ Who can have opened the woodhouse door ? I 
shut it myself on leaving the kitchen,” she said. 

Taking a candle from the table, she held it up 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


107 

above her head, peering into the dark woodhouse. 
As she did this, she heard a noise — it came from 
behind the partition, the place called her father’s 
den. There was a scuffle — a groan — and all was 
again quiet. 

“ The animals are having a lively time of it. 
Perhaps they are fighting over the supper I gave 
them before I went upstairs. It is strange that 
my father has never allowed me to enter that 
room, when he knows how fond of animals I am.” 

For some minutes she stood, the candle in her 
hand, looking like a wax image, her face quite 
bloodless. The sitting-room clock in its solemn 
way struck twelve. 

Shaking herself as if just rousing from some 
trance, she closed the door into the woodhouse, and 
passed up the stairs. The parlor door was shut — 
Doctor Blacksheath must have gone to bed. 

She wondered where her lover was, and why he 
did not come to bid her good night. Stepping into 
her father’s room, she found him wide awake and 
reading. 

“ Twelve o’clock and all’s well, Theo,” he spoke 
solemnly. 

“ Father, have you seen Guy ? ” 

“ No, it’s strange. He always comes to ask if I 
want anythin’ for the night. He is probably 
either watchin’ or tired, and has long since turned 
in, knowin’ you were with me. Keep yer light 


108 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


burnin’, my child. Don’t undress ; also lock yer 
door into the hall. If any one enters yer cham- 
ber, ’twill be through mine or b}^ the window. 
I’m a good watchdog, and stronger than yer 
think.” 

“ I am not afraid, father, but I am very sleepy, 
for I have not slept for several nights, you 
know.” 

She kissed him and passed into her little 
white chamber. After locking the door into the 
hall she knelt down by the side of her bed and 
prayed for her beloved father, and for her lover, 
that God would bless and keep them both in His 
wise and loving care. Then rising from her 
knees, she took the silver, placed it between the 
mattress .and the feather bed, removed the white 
spread, and threw her weary self down to sleep. 

“How good it is to rest,” she murmured. The 
blue eyes closed, and the tired girl was fast 
asleep. Her dreams were broken and strange. 
Again she seemed to be in a boat, her lover by 
her side ; he was placing a ring on her finger. 
Two opals and one beautiful diamond were held 
in the quaint setting — the opals glowed like fire. 
Her lover was just saying, 

“ You will wear this, Theo, always for my 
sake,” when from out of the water rose the figure 
of a woman. She stretched out her hand, as if to 
snatch the trinket from the girl’s fingers. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 109 

“ It is mine ! It is mine ! Give it to me,” she 
screamed. 

Theo awoke. Did the woman say the words, 
“ Save me ! save me ! ” or did she utter them her- 
self? A horrible picture met her eyes. The room 
was as bright as day, the house was on fire. She 
tried to rise from her bed, but a hand pressed 
against her throat, and over her bent the figure of 
one whom she had but twice before seen. The 
livid face of a woman, whose wild blue eyes, 
starting from their sockets glared at her. A voice, 
was it a woman’s voice? It sounded half animal, 
as it screamed, 

u He will come ! He will come again ! You 
shall die, shall die! He loves you! He loved 
* me once ! ” The pressure of the fingers grew 
stronger. 

“ Mercy ! mercy ! ” she gasped. 

A figure entered — a man’s. It was that of 
Doctor Blacksheath. He dragged the woman 
away from her victim, and flung her aside. She 
turned and rushed at him like a tiger, burying her 
fingers in his flesh. 

“Die, demon!” he cried. “I’ve been patient 
with yer long enough,” and springing at her, he 
gave a blow which felled the creature to the 
floor. Rushing to the bed, he caught the para- 
lyzed Theo in his arms. 

“ Help, Guy ! Guy ! father, help ! ” 


110 


A SECRET OE THE SEA. 


The smoke was suffocating, the crackling of the 
flames seemed very near. 

“My child, I’m coinin’, I’m cornin’ ! ” She 
heard her father’s voice. She was being dragged 
somewhere, she could not see where ; the smoke 
blinded her. She prayed. 

“ The stairs are burnt away ! Great God ! ” the 
man cried. “I’ll not perish just at the moment 
of victory. Jump, woman, it’s yer only hope ! ” 

“ My Theo ! ” rang the agonized voice of her 
father. “ My Theo I ” 

Too late ! An awful crash, then a column of 
flame shot up toward heaven. It was their 
funeral pyre. 

The flames, as upward and upward they mounted, 
seemed at last to touch the very clouds. Showers 
of sparks fell on the gray rocks like rain. The 
hissing and crackling increased, a mad roar could 
alone be heard, followed by the noise of crashing 
timbers. The storm had ceased. The foam 
crested waves playfully touched the shores of the 
little island just as they had always done. Had 
they no heart that they sang their old songs of 
joy and peace ? 

There was one heart, one weary, tired heart, 
who stood alone, an outcast and almost a beggar, 
before the smouldering ruins of his home. 

He heard the sound of the waves, but appeared 
as if turned into stone. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


Ill 


The captain’s gray locks were tossed by the 
wind; he wore no covering on his head. There 
had been time only to save his own life. The 
eyes of the old man were raised to heaven in 
blank despair. Was he looking to see his child 
enter the home of the pure in heart? His hands 
were pressed together in prayer. 

“ God be merciful to me a sinner ! ” No eyes 
but those of the Master saw his sufferings. How 
long he stood there he never knew. 

It was morning — a November morning. The 
coloring had faded out of the skies, and out of 
his world. 

The snow was falling softly on the rocks and on 
the smoking ruins of his little cottage. The flakes 
fell so noiselessly and like a benediction, seemed 
in his ears, to whisper the old promise. “ Though 
thy sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as 
snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall 
be as wool.” 

He bent his head. 

“Oh, Lord! I thank thee I am forgiven! I 
shall follow her ! There will not be many years 
of waitin’, the time’s short. I’m an old man. I 
must confess all, before I can join my Theo, and 
stand before my God.” 

He walked with bowed head to the landing 
place. The dory bearing her name, “ Theodosia,’’ 
was in its accustomed place. The other boat 


112 


A SECRET OR THE SEA. 


lie could see, the one belonging to the man who 
had rained him. 

Pushing the dory into the water, he jumped in, 
and with a few strokes of the oars, was soon some 
distance from the island. As the captain turned 
away his gaze from the spot which all these years 
had grown so dear to him, his eyes fell upon the 
slab of marble which bore his Cicily’s name. He 
knew that he would see it again never more. A 
great lump in his throat choked him, a film passed 
over his eyes, hot tears fell upon his hard brown 
hands. 

Captain Burton, exhausted and almost uncon- 
scious, reached Star Island. How he got there in 
his weakened condition, he never knew. Old 
Peter while out fishing, saw that something was 
wrong, and towed him in. 

Nabbaye and Bennaye insisted upon his being 
carried to their little shanty. They did all in 
their power for him, as week after week he lay 
tossing on his sick bed, in his delirium describing 
the awful traged}^ over and over again. 

The people on Star had seen the blaze on Duck 
Island and the crimson reflection on the sky, but 
they thought it simply a bonfire ; it being late in 
the autumn, at which times bonfires were common. 

Old Nabbaye went wandering around like a lost 
soul, sobbing as if her heart would break, and 
crying, 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


113 


w My prettye one, my prettye one ! The dream 
wa’ real after all. We could na saver yer, but 
the angels caught yer an carried yer right up into 
gloiy. Bennaye an we’ll have to wait for yer to 
come an fetch us, if we ain’t too big to carry.” 

For six weeks Captain Burton hung between 
life and death. Then came a slow convalescence, 
that weary coming back to life, which the old find 
it so hard to bear, when they are alone and help- 
less. 

By midwinter, the captain had grown so much 
stronger that he was able to start for the main- 
land. It took almost all of his small store of gold 
to return to the poor fisherfolk that which they 
had spent for him. He could never repay them for 
their kindness. 

And one day he sailed away. There were tears 
in his eyes, and in those of the simple folk who 
had been so good to him. Thej^ knew they would 
never again see the “black-handed captain of 
Duck.” 

After he had left them, they always spoke of 
him as “ The man with a history.” 

Early in the spring, some of the people went 
over to Duck Island. All they found, however, 
among the charred ruins of the cottage, were 
some blackened bones. Digging a hole in the 
earth, they buried them, and then jumping in 
their boats they rowed hurriedly away, saying the 
8 


114 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


place was haunted. They had seen strange forms 
and heard strange sounds. 

Packed with the clothes of the man who had 
lived but a few days among them at Gosport, he 
who called himself Doctor Blacksheath, they had 
found a goodly store of gold pieces, bearing a 
foreign stamp. The bag had been buried by the 
far-sighted doctor, and to this day no one has 
ever discovered its hiding place. 

It was long before the islanders again visited 
Duck. The tragedy became a story, and the 
story in time, was forgotten. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


115 


CHAPTER IX. 

“Oat from the busy suu of life, into the shade and calm, 

The stilly hours of Eve bring soft and soothing balm.*’ 

Alone and footsore, Captain Burton wandered 
from state to state, from town to town. His 
money was almost exhausted, but before it was 
quite gone he hoped to find the home of Mr. 
Allston’s cousins, that he might tell them of their 
kinsman’s sad and tragic death. Theo would 
want him to do it, it would be her wish, he felt. 
His angel Theo seemed always near him, never 
very far away. 

Late one day in the month of June, he reached 
the village of A. and stopped before the door of a 
large white house with green blinds. He had 
deen directed there by a woman, who touched by 
the old man’s weary dejected appearance, stood 
looking after him, wondering where he had come 
from, and what he desired of the ladies at the 
white honse. 

Lifting the great brass knocker, he let it fall 
with a resounding thud. The door opened, a 
black serving man stood before him, 


116 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


“ Can I see one of the ladies of the family ? 
I’ve a message for them,” he added slowly. 

The respectable butler, in his fine broadcloth, 
looked somewhat majestic, as, holding his gray 
woolly head very stiffly, he answered, eyeing the 
shabby captain from top to toe. 

“ Do yer suppose I’se gwyn to let yer in ? Yer 
miserable white trash, yer ! Dar ain’t nebber al- 
lowed no beggar whatsoever to enter der mansion. 
What's yer name, and whare’s }^er goin to ? ” 

The captain’s face flushed ; the once proud re- 
served man was humble, and timid as a child. 

“I'm Captain Burton, and I’ve traveled a long 
way to find the cousins of Mr. Guy Allston.” 

The black man’s face beamed with joy. 

“ Massa Guy! Yer know whar he’s livin’? 
We’ve been that worried ’bout him, my ladies has, 
we’ve been mos out our minds. Walk in captain, 
I’ll tell the ladies.” 

He gave the old man a chair in the wide, cool 
hall, and hurried up the stairs. 

The peace of a day in June brooded over all. 
Outside the grasshoppers and crickets kept up the 
buzz of insect society life, the bees hovered over 
their sweets, the birds in the sweeping horse- 
chestnut trees appeared to be gossiping over the 
events of the day, their liquid notes fell upon the 
ears of the old man. How cool it was, and how 
very quiet. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


117 


In a few moments the obsequious darkey re- 
turned saying, 

“ De ladies will be down present^. Dey says 
ter make yerself comfortable, and git cooled off.” 

“ Thank yer,” responded Captain Burton. 
Somehow he was so weary and hot, that he felt he 
would like to sit there always. The gray-haired 
butler strutted through the hall and disappeared 
behind the dining-room door. 

On both sides of the richly paneled hall, there 
were two large apartments. On the left hand a 
library, on the right, a long drawing-room. The 
library was so dark, that the captain could dis- 
tinguish nothing; but in the drawing-room, one of 
the blinds was partially opened, letting in a broad 
band of light, that fell upon the green velvety 
carpet, with its sprigs of white roses scattered 
here and there at regular intervals. The soft 
summer breeze touched the lace curtains, blowing 
them slowly backwards and, forwards, at times 
making their scalloped edges curl and shiver. 

An old-fashioned square piano stood in one cor- 
ner, and in the opposite, built into the wall, was a 
large cupboard with glass doors. These were or- 
namented with wreaths of flowers in white and 
gold, of a most conventional design. On the 
shelves of this cupboard were arranged pieces of 
dainty china, of old English, Dutch, or India 
manufacture, with a few specimens of rare Vene- 


118 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


tian glass. Three fiddle -backed chairs stood 
primly on either side of the fireplace. Between 
the brass andirons reposed a blue jug, which was 
filled with feathery asparagus. On the white 
wooden mantelshelf stood two candelabra with 
glass pendants, and in the middle a gilt clock, 
supported by two angels, who appeared unable to 
bear their burden. Above the mantel, the light 
fell upon the life-sized portrait of a young and 
beautiful woman. Her gown was of blue satin, 
cut low on the shoulders, showing to good advan- 
tage the lovely curves of both arms and neck, and 
was trimmed with swan’s down. One of her beau- 
tifully molded hands with its tapering fingers held 
a red rose, and was crossed over the other. The 
hair was simply coiled in the back, the features were 
regular, being clearly cut, but cold like marble. 

As the captain’s eyes rested upon the queen like 
woman, he felt a sudden mysterious influence that 
drew him toward the portrait. He rose slowly 
from his chair, and passed into the long drawing- 
room, his tired feet sinking in the velvet carpet, 
as he noiselessly approached the painting. The 
fair lady’s eyes were fixed on him ; they followed 
him whichever way he turned. 

“ It’s she ! she ! oh God ! ” he groaned. “ Hast 
thou no pity for me ? Must that face haunt me 
forever — forever ? Must the curse follow me to 
my grave?” He turned and hid his face in his 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


119 


hands, while great sobs shook his frame. He 
knelt with his back to the portrait and prayed. 

“Is it not enough, oh God! I have suffered for 
years. Take the agony away. Thou hast for- 
given me, I know. My Cicily and my Tlieo have 
plead for me ! ” The pent up agony of years was 
in that cry. 

He raised the black gloved hand to heaven and 
looked at it. 

“’Twas you, that did it, not I — I was young.” 

Two figures entered, they stood watching the 
old man ; his words were too low spoken to reach 
their ears. 

“Hush,” said one, the taller of the two, “he is 
praying.” 

A ray of light fell upon his gray locks and 
turned them into silver ; it fell upon his clothes, 
patched and faded, and on his rough brown hands 
which held a battered straw hat. Someone had 
given it to him. 

“ Speak to him, Dorothy. Perhaps he is out of 
his mind, some poor half mad creature, who has 
wandered in and having heard of Guy’s absence 
has brought a strange story for our hearing.” 

“No, Elizabeth, how foolish you are. The old 
man is overcome by our cousin’s beauty. I do 
not wonder at it, for I myself have always been 
$ in love with the portrait. He has most likely 
never before seen such a face.” 


120 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


“ Overcome by the heat, you mean, Dorothy. 
It is the hottest day we have had.” 

“ What a picture he makes kneeling there. I 
wish I were an artist. If Guy were only here.” 

The whisperings of the two women seemed at 
last to reach the ears of Captain Burton. He 
started, slowly turned, and seeing the two ladies, 
wearily rose from his knees and advanced toward 
them. A shudder passed through his frame. 

“ Please excuse me ! The face of the lady is some- 
what like one I once came across, whose beauty im- 
pressed me strangely. I forgot where I was.” 

“ Ah, certainly. Your name, I believe Peter 
said, was Captain Burton. Pray be seated, cap- 
tain.” 

“ Yes, I’ve come a long distance,” said the old 
man, taking the chair nearest him ; one which was 
placed with its back to the portrait. 

“ Yer relative, Mr. Guy Allston ” 

“ Cousin, Captain Burton,” said both ladies to- 
gether. “Mr. Allston is our cousin, he has no 
nearer relatives. But tell us what you know 
about him ? ” Miss Elizabeth continued. 

“ We have been so anxious as to his welfare, 
having not heard from him for months. He was 
much run down in health, had overworked him- 
self, then there was also an unfortunate love af- 
fair. He gave us to understand that he would be 
gone until late in the autumn, and told us not to 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


121 


expect to hear from him as he did not wish to 
take a pen in hand during his vacation. Thus, at 
first, we did not worry. It was only as the weeks 
melted into months and he did not return, that 
we began to grow anxious.” 

“ Did Mr. Allston not say to where he was 
goin’?” 

“ No, he gave us no idea, and we have been 
greatly upset by the dreadful suspense. We have 
tried every method we could think of to find 
something concerning his whereabouts.” 

“ Ladies, I fear I bring }^er only sad tidin’s. 
Ye’ll never be able to find yer cousin, he is dead.” 

“ Dead ! ” cried both. “ No, not dead, Captain 
Burton ! It can not be true ! ” 

“ Aye ! aye ! ladies, it’s a sad tale, but I will 
tell yer all from beginnin’ to end.” 

The captain then began and slowly related the 
history of the young man’s life from the time when 
he came to Duck Island asking for board, until 
the last sad tragedy. When he ceased speaking 
both women were weeping bitterly. 

“ Thank you, Captain Burton, so much,” sobbed 
Miss Dorothy. “It was good of you in your own 
deep sorrow to come and seek us out.” 

“ It would only have been my Theo’s wish that 
I should come. Yer see she loved Mr. Allston. 
She always thought of every one. After I got 
over the illness, and on my legs again, it seemed 


122 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


to me her voice was always urgin’ me on to find 
yer out and tell yer. Yer see, Mr. Allston often 
talked about his cousins, and I knew the name, 
but I had very little money or strength, and some- 
one told me it was a long journey ; now and then a 
kind person would give me a lift, and so I got 
here.” 

He wiped his forehead with his ragged handker- 
chief. 

“ You must stay here over night and rest, Cap- 
tain Burton,” said Miss Dorothy. 

“ No, not here ! ” He glanced at the picture 
and shuddered. “ Not in this house. I must 
push on and make ni}^ way westward. I can find 
there work to do. Thank yer for yer kindness.” 

“ You must have something to strengthen you. 
You are not strong enough to start again on your 
journey ; ” she rang the bell. 

Peter was ordered to bring in some cold meat, 
tea, and bread and butter. 

The captain, although he tried to partake of 
some of the dainties, made but a poor attempt, 
and after a little, rose from his chair. Turning to 
the ladies, he said : 

“ I thank }^er for your kind hospitality. I’m 
sorry to have given yer so much trouble, but I 
must be goin’ now.” 

“ Much trouble ! ” said Miss Dorothy. “ Why 
it’s you who have taken the trouble, tramping it 


A SECRET OE THE SEA. 


123 


all the way from Portsmouth, to bring us the sad 
news.” 

She hastily left the room, but soon returned ; 
in her hands was an envelope. 

“ Take this, Captain Burton, if you feel you can 
not remain with us. We thank you for your 
thought of us and should you need anything you 
must write after you reach the West, and let us 
know how you are doing.” 

“ Thank yer, ladies, for your kindness, but the 
money I can not take. I’m an old man and 
’twon’t be long now before I join my wife and 
daughter. Life here is very dreary to me.” 

They were standing in the doorway and he on 
the low veranda. 

“ Good bye ! God bless yer ! ” and stretching 
out his hard hand to both, he passed down the 
steps into the twilight. The sisters lingered, 
watching the bent figure, until a cloud of dust 
hid him from view. 

******** 

On and on Captain Burton plodded. Day after 
day passed. His one wish seemed to be to reach 
the West. He would go to Michigan, where they 
told him he would find work. 

One night, late in the summer, the people of a 
town in Michigan found a gray-haired man lying 
in an unconscious condition by the roadside. His 


124 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


clothes were in tatters. Concluding him to be a 
worn-out tramp, they carried him to an almshouse. 
Here they cared for the unknown stranger. 
Among the papers in his ragged jacket pocket, 
they found one which gave his name as Captain 
Burton. 

The tramp appeared to be suffering from a low 
fever. After many weary days, at last the crisis 
came. 

It was midnight, a candle was dimly burning on 
a stand near the low cot. The matron sat by the 
old man’s bedside, her kind eyes fixed on his worn 
and wrinkled face, as it lay so white and pinched 
on the pillow. 

Turning to the doctor, she said in a low voice : 

“ He looks as if he’d seen a heap of trouble, now 
don’t he, doctor? He ain’t said if his folks is 
livin’ or not, like as not lie’s had a historj 7 , from 
the looks of him.” 

“ Poor fellow, he can not live long. In a half 
hour’s time he will probably become conscious, and 
then perhaps remain so until the end. One never 
knows what to expect. From his own lips we may 
learn something as to the old fellow’s history.” 

“He’s a sailor or has been one, I’m thinkin’; 
for see, doctor, how tattooed his right hand is. 
When he first come in here, he wore the remains 
of a black kid glove on it, as if he was kinder 
ashamed, and wanted to hide it.” 


A SECRET OE TEE SEA. 


125 


Captain Burton’s worn hands were lying on the 
white spread, and the one the matron alluded to, 
was covered with strange pictures. There was a 
ship, a cross, and the words, “ The sea holds its 
own secrets,” pricked deeply into the flesh. 

“ I wonder why he wore the glove. He seems 
a different kind of man from the regular tramps 
who are brought here, Mrs. Stephens.” 

“Yes, but there’s a mystery hangs over him, 
and what it is, I can’t for the life of me guess.” 


126 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


CHAPTER X. 

“ Wouldst thou,” so the helmsman answered, 

“ Learn the secrets of the sea? 

Only those who brave its dangers 
Comprehend its mystery ! ” 

It was morning. The eyes of the sick man 
slowly opened. The patient matron still sat by 
his bedside. He motioned to her saying : 

“I’m very ill, I’m goin’ to.die. Will yer please 
call a minister. There’s things lyin’ heavily on 
my conscience, which before I go, I must confess.” 

The woman rose from her chair, and opening 
the door into the hall, she called one of the in- 
mates, who had been sitting up through the night, 
ready to help her if needed. 

“Jim,” she said, “I wish you’d go quickly for 
Mr. Canfield, the Methodist minister. He’s accus- 
tomed to come here and is alwa} T s mighty good 
and accommodatin’. Tell him there’s a pauper 
here that’s dyin’ fast, and wants to see a preacher.” 

Captain Burton lay with half-opened eyes, which 
already the finger of death had touched. A white 
film appeared to be slipping over them. His hair 
was brushed back from his brow by the matron, 


A SECRET OF THE SEA 


127 


who from time to time wiped away the death 
sweat which stood in drops upon it. His face* had 
that drawn, pinched look, which we know so well. 
The old man’s hands were crossed, the nails were 
turning blue. 

“Is the minister come?” he whispered. “Tell 
them to hurry, please.” 

“Drink this, captain, ’twill give you strength.” 
She forced between his lips a teaspoon of brandy. 

Just then the door opened, and the minister 
entered. The woman respectfully rose. 

“ Mr. Canfield,” she whispered, “you’re just in 
time. I thought he wouldn’t hold out until yer 
got here, he’s dyin’ that fast.” 

“ May I stop in the room ? ” she said looking at 
the sick man. 

“No, I only want the minister, please.” 

She left the ward. Mr. Canfield took the seat 
just vacated. Bending over the dying man in a 
grave but sympathetic voice, he enquired : 

“ You have something you desire to tell me be- 
fore you stand in the presence of your Judge, our 
Heavenly Father?” 

“ Aye ! aye ! sir, I have. Are we alone ? ” His 
eyes wandered restlessly around the room. “I’m 
dyin’, I know. I’ve a story to tell yer, which I 
want written down and put into print. All the 
world must know it — everythin’. Please don’t 
interrupt me, for I’ve but a short time to finish 


128 


A SECRET OE THE SEA. 


my story. You’ve heard of Aaron Burr and of 
his daughter, Mrs. Allston, her name was 4 Theo- 
dosia.’ ” 

Mr. Canfield started. 44 Her father, nor gover- 
ner Allston, never knew what became of wife or 
daughter. I was a lad of fourteen, an orphan, 
American-born and brought up to the sea. Was 
put on board a pirate vessel, the captain’s name 
I’ve sworn never to tell. When Mrs. Allston set 
sail from Charleston, South Carolina, yer know 
she was cornin’ North to visit her father. She’d 
lost her son, and his death had been a terrible sor- 
row to her, I heard. 

44 Mrs. Allston was accompanied by a Mr. Timo- 
thy Ruggles Green ; they told me afterwards that 
was his name. He was a lawyer from New York, 
and had a wife and five children livin’. He’d gone 
to Columbia to see about property there, and bein’ 
a friend of the Burrs and Allstons, the governor 
placed his wife under Mr. Green’s care. The 
vessel they ' were goin’ on was named the Patriot. 
She had been a privateering cruiser and had her 
guns stowed below. At that time, it took five or 
six days to reach New York. ’Twason December 
the twenty-ninth, 1812, when the Patriot sailed. 
I, with some of the sailors from our vessel, was 
loungin’ around on the wharf, lookin’ curiously at 
the great chests that Mrs. Allston was takin’ away 
with her. Some said they were packed with 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


129 


family plate and jewels. After the Patriot sailed, 
our captain ordered us aboard our own vessel, and 
we also soon set sail. We kept close in the wake 
of the Patriot. When off Cape Hatteras we 
opened fire and attacked her. The fight was 
short. We boarded her, made the captain and 
crew walk the plank, and all the passengers, all 
but Mr. Green and Mrs. Allston.” A change came 
over the dying man’s face and he faintly said : 

4 * More brandy, please.” He then continued : 

44 When it came their turn, Tom Brown, one of 
the sailors, was ordered to come forward and tip 
the plank. Mr. Green was to go first. He was a 
fine lookin’ gentleman, very courtly. He begged 
the captain to spare his life, say in’ his wife and 
children needed him. But our captain was a 
hard, wicked man. He swore a fearful oath, then 
ordered Mr. Green to step on the plank. This he 
did without a murmur. He took off his watch, 
which, with a few papers, he handed to Tom 
Brown, askin’ him to send them to his wife, givin’ 
her address. Kneelin’ down, Mr. Green prayed 
for his family, for the lady in his charge, and for 
the souls of his murderers. Then solemnly he re- 
peated the words, 4 Lord Jesus, into thy hands I 
commit my spirit.’ I can’t ever forget the way he 
said it.* A nod from the captain, and Tom Brown 
tipped the plank. There was a splash, and all 
was over. 

9 • --- 


130 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


“ Mrs. Allston was the next victim.” He shud- 
dered. “ She was a beautiful woman, more like a 
queen than any one I’ve ever seen. She stood 
before our captain, and implored him to save her 
for the sake of her husband and her beloved 
father. A tear came into our captain’s eye, the 
first I ever saw there. 

“ ‘If I’m to die,’ she exclaimed (I remember every 
word and the tone in which she said ’em), ‘ I’ll 
die like the daughter of Aaron Burr. Allow me 
to go down into my cabin for a few moments.’ 

“She disappeared, but soon returned dressed in 
white, with her Bible pressed to her bosom. She 
looked like an angel, as she stood there before her 
murderers. The captain turned away, wicked 
man as he was, he could not face that woman. 
He looked more like the accused than the accuser. 
He glanced cowardly about him in all directions, 
as if wavering from his purpose ; but seeing an 
amused smile creeping over the face of one of the 
most villainous of his crew, he turned, and gazin’ 
resolutely at Tom Brown, said coldly : 

“ Mrs. Allston, I can’t save yer. It goes against 
my principles.” The sailors shrank away, a super- 
stitious terror seemed to take possession of them. 

“ Mrs. Allston was commanded to step on the 
plank, as Mr. Green had done before her, and the 
captain nodded to Tom Brown. We all knew 
what his nod meant. 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


131 


“ ‘ Captain, I can’t do it. I’ve alters minded yer 
afore, but I can’t now — not if yer hang me for it,’ 
and Tom Brown fell back among the group of 
sailors. I was a lad then of fourteen. I was 
standin’ with the men. The enraged captain 
swore a horrible oath, and shaking his fist in the 
faces of all, he cried : 

44 4 You're cowards, all of you. Anthony Bur- 
ton, you’re only a boy, and boys haven't souls. I 
command yer when I give the word, to tip that 
plank ! ’ 

44 Once again Mrs. Allston pleaded for her life. 

Captain,’ she cried, 4 spare me, oh spare me. My 
husband and father will richly reward you.’ He 
answered, 4 No, woman, your hour is come.’ 
There was no pity or compassionate look on that 
hard and wicked face. She continued, 4 If I must 
die, I will die, as I said before, like the daughter 
of Aaron Burr.’ The captain glanced at me ; oh 
God, how could I take a human life ! I tipped 
the plank, and without a cry, the beautiful woman 
sank under the waves.” 

Strength seemed to be given to the old man, 
as he tremblingly held up his tattooed right hand. 
44 It was yer who did it, false hand, ’twas yer. 
I marked }^er for life. The sea has held its secret, 
all these years. But now, before I go,* I must tell 
it.” 

There were tears in the eyes of the minister as he 


132 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


said, “ Anthony Burton, have you repented of this 
fearful crime ? ” 

“ Aye, aye, sir ! God only knows the suffering it 
has caused me. There’s more. The captain of 
our vessel was himself afterward put to death 
by his men. We mutinied, and divided the 
gold amongst us. There was enough to make 
us all rich men. I had my full share of the 
booty, but ’twas the price of blood. I sinned in 
usin’ it. 

“ My Theo and my beloved wife were ignorant 
of all. I guess now they know. My secret 
seemed too much for me to keep. It grew to be 
a heavy load. Peace of mind left me. Before me 
I saw always the face of Mrs. Allston, whom I 
had murdered. The only man whom I trusted 
with my secret, whose crazy wife I cared for, 
robbed me of all. At the last burning my house 
to the ground. 

“ My daughter, our guest, the wretch with his 
wife, all perished in the flames. In the hour when 
I was alone and forsaken, I found forgiveness. 
That’s my story ; may God have mercy on me ! ” 

A knock at the door sounded. “Come in,” an- 
swered the minister. 

The door slowly opened and the matron stood 
by the sick man’s bedside. 

“ There’s a woman, Captain Burton, would like 
to see yer.” 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


133 


“ A woman,” the old man slowly repeated, “ a 
woman ? I know no woman.” 

At this moment a figure, dressed in black, and 
heavily veiled, entered the room. She stood at 
the foot of his bed. 

Slowly lifting her veil from her scarred and 
seamed face, she glanced at the old man, and with 
a cry of joy, threw herself on the floor at his side. 

“ Father, do you not know your Theo ? I did 
not perish in the flames.” 

The old man started forward. 

“ My child ! My child ! Is this heaven? Am 
I dreamin’ ? Tell me all ! My child ! My child ! ” 

“ Father, the floor gave way, I fell with the 
others. But a merciful providence protected me. 
Only my face and hands were badly burned. I 
made my way to the woodhouse. Two of the 
walls were already on fire, and a burning timber 
falling on the floor had set fire to the boards. 
While all exit was cut off, and expecting death at 
any moment, to my great joy I saw an opening in 
the rocky foundations. There were steps cut in 
the stone. I made my way down these. They 
led to a cave. Faint and suffering, I crawled into 
it; here I lay for many hours. I could hear 
above me the hissing of the flames, the falling and 
cracking of timbers, — but I was saved. At last 
all was quiet like the grave. I knew it was all 
over and that I should see Guy never again on 


134 


A SECRET OF THE SEA. 


earth,” she sobbed. “ I thought you perished 
with the rest, my father. Suffering from my 
burns, weak and exhausted from lack of food, the 
next day I crawled out of my hiding place. There 
were two strangers standing on our landing. They 
were examining the dory that Dr. Blacksheath 
had come in. I saw a pleasure yacht not far 
away. When these gentlemen perceived me, they 
started, thinking me to be a ghost. I motioned 
to them, being too weak to call. Then I fainted, 
and knew nothing more until I found myself in a 
hospital ward. My kind nurse told me I had been 
very, very ill ; for da}^s and weeks, I had hovered 
between life and death. Gradually I grew better. 
Only a short time ago, I was able to leave the 
hospital. I had made a few friends, one of them 
was from this place. She insisted upon bringing 
me home with her. I heard accidentally of the 
almshouse and came here to visit it. The matron 
told me an old man was dying. I asked if I might 
see him, and found, — my father ! ” 

She stopped. Captain Burton was breathing 
heavily. With difficulty, he raised his tattooed 
hand, and laid it upon her head. 

“ My Theo, yer’ve found your father, but lie’s 
not the same. He — he — is — at last — forgiven.” 
And raising his hand heavenward, he whispered, 
“ The sea kept its secret. The waves are callin’ 
to me, — callin’ all the time. Do you not hear 


A SECRET OF THE SEA . 


135 


them as they dash on Shag and Mingo ? They’re 
— callin’ — me — home.” 

His head fell back upon the pillow, and Theo, 
kneeling there, knew that her father’s soul had 
embarked upon the ocean of eternity. 

She laid her poor scarred hand softly upon his 
eyelids, and closed them. There was a peace rest- 
ing on her father’s face, which she had never seen 
there before. It was the peace which follows for- 
giveness, “ the peace which passeth all under- 
standing.” 


FINIS. 



















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